As part of the Ulrich’s 50th Anniversary celebration, Dream Machine: Fantasy, Surreality, and Play brings together works from the permanent collection and special loans from around the U.S., for an exciting, interactive experience of the fantastical. Dream Machine explores the way in which artists ideate the subconscious and the notion of surreality, an unsettling illusion of reality, through historical and contemporary lenses, especially at a time when rapidly advancing technology breathes possibility into virtually any reality that we can dream up. A preoccupation with our dreams and nightmares has been demonstrated by artists and writers for centuries, and that commonality creates an inherent connective dialogue between both creators and viewers that transcends time and space.

Dream Machine invites audiences to examine the layers of their realities through works by a diverse group of modern and contemporary artists, that interpret themes of fantasy, play, the surreal, invention, symbols, the natural world, and the metaphysical. Afterall, often the surreal is the only way to capture the absurdity of our world, the systems in place within it, and the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

Our 2024 Fall exhibitions and associated programs are made possible by the generosity of Ulrich50 donors, for which the Ulrich is very grateful. The Ulrich extends sincere thanks to members of Ulrich Friends with Benefits, whose ongoing support makes programming possible. The City of Wichita and Wichita State University provide funding support for the Ulrich’s general operations.