Waldo Thai owner serves first chef collaboration for Kemper Museum’s Artist Dinner Series

The first in a series of three dinner events at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is set to feature James Beard semifinalist Pam Liberda, head chef and owner of Waldo Thai — creating a one-of-a-kind dining experiences blending together the creative worlds of food and art.

“Kemper Museum has always cultivated connections between contemporary artists working across the globe and the local creative community through its programming,” said Toma Wolff, Kemper Museum trustee and co-chair of the Artist Dinner event series. “Pam is one of the best chefs in town, and we are thrilled to highlight her creative contemporary cuisine alongside Hung’s meaningful legacy in Kansas City and beyond.”

Food and beverages by Pam Liberda, head chef and owner of Waldo Thai; photo by Anna Petrow

The event series — which kicks off April 5 with chef collaborator Liberda — will not only provide an intimate dining experience at the museum, but also raise funds to support free public programming and exhibitions in Kansas City.

Click here to purchase tickets for the Artist Dinner Series.

The Waldo Thai owner brings a long list of accolades, most notably being named a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation Award, recognized in the category of Best Chef: Midwest 2023. She was also voted Kansas City’s 2021 Chef of the Year by Feast Magazine, and awarded Best Chef by The Pitch’s Best of KC 2022.

Click here to read more about Pam Liberda’s background.

Liberda is committed to maintaining the authenticity and richness of Northern Thai flavors and specializes in the diverse and vibrant spices of this cuisine. She and her culinary team will create a four-course dinner with cocktail and wine pairing, combining Liberda’s and painter and mixed media artist Hung Liu’s creative desires to fuse the old with the new. 

The April 5 dinner honors the late Liu, a Chinese-American artist who lived in the San Francisco Bay Area. Liu had strong connections to Kansas City with a storied history of exhibitions at Kemper Museum and other local galleries.

Her work has also been shown internationally, with significant exhibitions at the National Museum for Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., and the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. 

Click here to learn more about Hung Liu.

Artwork: Hung Liu, Chinese American, 1948–2021 To Create Mankind’s Happiness, 2012, mixed media 41 x 240 inches. Collection of the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of Nancy C. Salgado Trustee of David Salgado Trust 2010 (Trillium Graphics), Sherry Leedy, Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, Kansas City, Missouri, Jeff Kelley, Hung Liu Studio, and Toma Wolf, Byron Cohen Gallery, 2022.9. © Estate of Hung Liu.

Liu’s work engages ideas of memory and history, incorporating historic imagery with innovative painting techniques and materials. Dorothy Moss, director of the Hung Liu Estate and former curator of painting and sculpture at the National Portrait Gallery, will be a special guest at the dinner and provide insights into Liu’s life and practice. 

The two additional Artist Dinner Series events are planned for September and November 2024. The featured artist and chef pairings will be announced at a later date. 

Proceeds from the event series are expected to fund groundbreaking exhibitions and programs that support contemporary communities, artists and ideas in a welcoming environment for all.

“When Kemper Museum opened in October 1994, it was the only museum in the state dedicated to modern and contemporary art,” said Jessica May, executive director of the museum. “Over the past three decades, it has become a cultural cornerstone in Kansas City and a leading presenter of contemporary art and ideas in the region. At 30 years young and with the support of our communities, both here at home and around the world, we’re just getting started.”