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

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.

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.
As culture editor, I help you embrace what makes Kansas City fun and vibrant, whether it’s a championship sports franchise or a little-known wonder. I work with reporters to ensure KCUR stories on art, culture, and race fully reflect our diverse home so readers and listeners can take full advantage of what the metro has to offer. Email me at luke@kcur.org.