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Up To Date

Kansas City's Pioneering Female Painter, And Daughter Uncovers Mother's Racial Passing

By Steve Kraske,
Luke X. Martin
Published November 28, 2017 at 3:42 PM CST
Courtesy of Jane Pronko
'West Bottoms 2014' examplifies the skill with which Jane Pronko treats local landscapes.

Jane Pronko has for years captured the spirit and flavor of Kansas City with her paintings, which have in turn captured the fancy of collectors around the world. Today, meet one of the metro's pioneering female artists.

Then, hear the true story of a mixed-race woman from the Jim Crow south, who gave up life as a black woman in Louisiana for one as a white woman in Ohio. That decision underpinned the rest of her life and, after her death, reverberates through the life of her daughter, author Gail Lukasik.

A collection of Jane Pronko's work is on view at Leopold Gallery at 324 W. 63th St. in Kansas City, Missouri. Go to LeopoldGallery.com for more information.

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Up To Date Talk ShowArts & CulturepaintingKansas City Missouri (KCMO)lentwomenBookshistoryraceVisual arts
Steve Kraske
When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
See stories by Steve Kraske
Luke X. Martin
As culture editor, I oversee KCUR’s coverage of race, culture, the arts, food and sports. I work with reporters to make sure our stories reflect the fullest view of the place we call home, so listeners and readers feel primed to explore the places, projects and people who make up a vibrant Kansas City. Email me at luke@kcur.org.
See stories by Luke X. Martin