To many, the Uptown Theater at Broadway Boulevard and Valentine Road (built in 1926) is a venue to hear live performing artists. To others like me, it’s also a living example of the resilience and endurance of a piece of our history.

Over the years, Kansas City has, like many cities, lost so many of our irreplaceable old buildings to the wrecking ball. The Uptown, with its beautiful Italian Renaissance style and Art Deco sign, had fallen into disrepair before being saved in the late 1980s by a local developer. This piece, along with others in my Vertical City series, pays homage to some of the historic structures that we’re so fortunate to still have around. A resurgence of activity in the Valentine district bodes well for its future.

This piece began as an onsite sketch. The massing of large blocks of value and color were captured with a preliminary plein air painting session, and the piece was then moved to my studio for completion.

In Uptown, my aim is to combine the memorable grand historic elements of the structure while capturing its importance as a thriving entertainment venue to a contemporary audience.

It sells in a black-stained wood box frame. Free shipping anywhere in the continental United States.