Abstract Ideas

Using form, color, gesture, and/or line, abstract art departs from realistic or objective depictions of the world. In the United States, abstract art is thought to have begun with the arrival of modern art from Europe in the Armory Show of 1913 in New York. Abstraction existed as a form of artistic expression in art in various cultures long before 1913, however, and it has captivated artists well beyond the popular early- to mid-twentieth century movements of American modernism and Abstract Expressionism.

This exhibition features an array of modern and contemporary American artists from the Museum’s permanent collection exploring ideas and emotions through abstraction. These works speak to the legacy of earlier abstract art movements, as well as to the enduring interest of abstraction today. Eliciting feelings and sensations, abstract art prioritizes emotional experiences over tangible realities. With this exhibition, we encourage viewers to let their eyes and minds wander and delight in the colors, shapes, and gestures of these evocative works.

Featured artists include: James Baker, Donna Bruton, Ruth Dealy, Mary Dondero, Jemison Faust, Ralph Gibson, Corita Kent, Alan Metnick, Joseph Norman, Mahler B. Ryder, Aaron Siskind, and Hugh Townley among others.