By Emily Christensen

We’re in the dog days of summer, and (as far as I’m concerned) the ideal way to beat the heat is within the climate-controlled environs of a museum.

Kansas City's Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art offers the perfect excuse to duck inside for an hour or four: the traveling exhibition “Timeless Mucha: The Magic of Line,” on view through August 30, includes a remarkable number of works by the influential Czech illustrator whose style is synonymous with the Art Nouveau movement.

Mucha, who acknowledged that “no art is new,” drew inspiration from sources including illuminated manuscripts, Slavic folk designs, and Japanese woodblock prints. Perhaps it’s this genius for freewheeling combination that makes Mucha’s work so enduring — and influential. The exhibition includes a plethora of examples of Mucha-influenced work, from 1960s psychedelic rock posters to Japanese manga.

This curatorial choice demonstrates the way influences ripple through time, geography, and medium. It also makes for a museum experience with wide appeal. Since I saw the show in May, I’ve recommended it to several people: music history enthusiastists, design nerds, comics fans, and francophiles. “Timeless Mucha” inspired each one in a different way.

Admission to the special exhibition is $24. (The permanent collection galleries are free with a reservation.) The Bloch Building, where "Timeless Mucha" is installed, is accessible to people with disabilities, and an electric cart is available to transport visitors from the info desk to the galleries. ADA parking in the adjacent garage is free.

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