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Our Fall Exhibition - Suspended in Time: Still Lives and Magic Realism - is now open.

Banner for the "Suspended in Time: Still Lives and Magic Realism" art exhibition, showing two paintings. The one on the left is a floral arrangement, and the one on the right is a surreal still life. The banner also lists the dates of the exhibition as August 20 - December 21 and social media handles: @uno_bak on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Suspended in Time: Still Lives and Magic Realism presents the still life works of artists Ori Gersht (b.1967), Stephen Namara (b. 1953), and Fidencio Fifield-Perez (b.1992) in conversation with a selection of Samuel Bak’s (b.1933) paintings. Historically, still life paintings have allowed artists to reflect upon our human condition through the meticulous depiction of objects, platters of food, flowers, and fruits. Capturing these elements on the cusp of decay, artists commented on the ephemerality of human existence, the vanity of youth, and the dangers of over-indulgence. In these contemporary renderings, each artist blends the personal and the domestic to ponder broader historical and contemporary narratives. This exhibition explores how these artists used their medium to create poetic and fantastical arrangements to question a “known reality” and highlight the impossibility of depicting the world in all its complexities.

Sign-up today for our returning programming!

Bak to Basics: Chess for All Ages – Sunday, September 14, 1PM

Join us for a introductory chess program. Learn about chess and magical realism in Samuel Bak’s paintings. Participants will engage in a brief history of chess followed by a lesson on how to play chess. This program is designed for beginning players and seasoned chess players who enjoy helping others learn. Please RSVP in pairs. This is a FREE event, but preregistration is required.

Exhibition Lecture – Thursday, September 18, 6PM

The Historical and Cultural Impact of Still Life Painting

Speaker: Kimberly Minor, PhD.
Dr. Minor will explore the historical and cultural impact of still life painting in the seventeenth and eighteenth century. This is a FREE event, but preregistration is required.

All Museum programming is FREE and open to the public, but preregistration is required. RSVP Today!

Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center thanks the following sponsors for their generous support of Suspended in Time: Still Lives and Magic Realism and accompanying educational programs and events.

A grid of logos and names of various sponsors, including Douglas County, The Sherwood Foundation, Omaha Steaks, Shirley & Leonard Goldstein Supporting Foundation, Nebraska Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, The Milton S. and Corinne N. Livingston Foundation Fund, Valmont, Annette and Paul Smith, Mutual of Omaha, and Cynthia Epstein and David Wiesman.

K-12 Education

A brown-bordered graphic advertises a "K-12 EDUCATOR OPEN HOUSE" in stylized, cream-colored font on a dark green chalkboard illustration. The chalkboard also includes drawn chalk lines, a piece of orange chalk, and a pink eraser. Below, in a tan box, larger red-orange text reads "JOIN US ON" above bold, dark blue text stating "TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16" and "BETWEEN 4 - 7 PM". At the bottom, logos for the "UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA" and the "Samuel Bak Museum The Learning Center" are displayed. Surrounding these central elements are illustrated school supplies: a green and brown pencil sharpener, two green pencils, and a closed notepad.

Calling all K-12 Educators!

K-12 Educators are invited to enjoy an evening of heavy appetizers and refreshments while learning about the fall and spring exhibitions. Meet staff, tour the current exhibit, and access free field trip resources.

RSVP for the Educator Open House today!

Interested in a Field Trip?

Two female students, one in a blue plaid shirt and the other in a red shirt, both wearing hijabs stand in an art gallery holding clipboards and pencils. They are looking at a painting on the wall, with other students and art pieces visible in the background.

Find out more about our K-12 tour field trip opportunities and schedule a tour today!

Museum Team Spotlight

Meet Sadie Bartle – Assistant Gallery Manager

I graduated with a degree in Art History from Arizona State University. During my time in college, I chose to focus on Indigenous art and culture. Being an Assistant Gallery Manager at the Museum is wonderful for me. I’m able to study art about human rights across cultures and time periods. I also am able to assist with exhibition planning, research, art handling, managing students and the art space, giving tours, facilitating field trips, and marketing through social media. I feel so lucky to work alongside a wonderful team of staff and students and be involved in many different aspects of working at an art museum. Some of my hobbies include playing guitar and making music, spending time with friends, and checking out new restaurants in the Omaha area.

Favorite Bak: I love Angel, 1964, because Bak rarely uses the vibrant pink and blue colors pictured here. This work is in our collection but has not yet been on display. I found this work while building our database and was shocked Samuel Bak had created something in this style. He was well-known as an abstract artist before he developed his current surrealist style. I love showcasing his abstract work, when possible, to show his progression as an artist and to remind people that they can reinvent themselves at any point in time. Samuel Bak’s art and career is a constant reminder that many paths await us and it’s always possible to choose a new one.

A horizontal graphic featuring two photos. On the left is a smiling woman sitting outside among a crowd of people seated at picnic tables. The woman has long dark hair and is wearing an all-white outfit. The woman is holding a pink sun umbrella on a bright sky-blue day. On the right is a vivid watercolor painting that features an abstract, organic form that seems to flow from left to right. The left side is dominated by vibrant pinks and purples, with a large, delicate, leaf-like shape. In the center, swirling lines in oranges and reds intertwine with cool blue and turquoise forms, creating a sense of dynamic movement. The right side of the painting is a deep purple and blue, with a soft, white, human-like shape in the bottom right corner, suggesting a figure at rest. The artist's signature and the date 'BAK '64' are in the bottom left corner.

Free Audio Tour

The Museum mobile tour is back, offering a free audio tour available for visitors in English, Spanish, and French. Please bring your headphones and a smart device to scan a QR code at each stop.

Guided Tour Requests

Would you like a Private Guided Tour? Complete the Guided Tour Request Form for more information.

Meeting Reservation Requests

Interested in reserving the SBMLC Classroom for your next meeting? Read our Reservation Agreement to see if your group is eligible. Complete the Reservation Request Form to get the conversation started. Additional information can be found on the Museum's Meeting and Event Spaces website page.

Featured Events

Heroic Behavior in Theory and in Practice - September 15-16

A sunny sky-blue, aerial view of a city landscape. On the left is a red translucent square with the words “Heroism Studies Conference” in white text. In between the words “Studies” and “Conference” is a narrow white banner with the words “University of Nebraska – 2025” in red text.

The Harris Center for Judaic Studies will host the 5th Global Heroism Studies Conference, the main biennial event for scholars, researchers, and practitioners in the field of Heroism Science. The conference will begin with a keynote lecture by Catherine Sanderson, Poler Family Professor of Psychology at Amherst College and author of Why We Act: Turning Bystanders Into Moral Rebels. Find more information at judaic.unl.edu/heroism-conference-2025 and to RSVP!