Kristan H. McKinsey will present an illustrated lecture on the lives and works of several women who pursued creative careers in central Illinois during the 19th and 20th centuries. Among the artists highlighted are two founding members of the Peoria Women’s Club. Through their fascinating stories, McKinsey will showcase these women's significant contributions to our region's cultural life and history at a time when society largely discouraged women from pursuing careers outside the home.
McKinsey, the Director of the Illinois Women Artists Project, enjoyed a 32-year career as a museum curator, retiring from the Peoria Riverfront Museum in 2016. In November 2023, she was named ArtsPartner of the Year by ArtsPartners of Central Illinois, and in 2024, she was honored as the Art Leader of the Year by the CFCI Women’s Fund. Before moving to Peoria in 1996, McKinsey held curatorial positions at the Saint Louis Art Museum, the New York Historical Society, and the Evanston Historical Society.
In Peoria, McKinsey served on the board of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois for 12 years, including as President from 2017 to 2020. She also served as President of the Fine Arts Society of Peoria from 2020 to 2022 and again from 2024 to 2025. McKinsey has been a member of the State Historical Society of Illinois board since 2021.
