Upcoming Exhibitions At The William Benton Museum
Childhood in American Art
October 28 - December 18, 2021
This exhibition offers a glimpse into childhood in 19th and early 20th century America through works of art in the Benton Museum’s permanent collection, as well as through objects on loan from UConn Archives and Special Collections, and other museum and private collections. This exhibition will touch on the changing concepts of childhood and look at the gendered imagery found in so many of its depictions. This exhibition features paintings and works on paper as well as some objects of material culture including toys, primers, samplers, and furniture.
Facing History: Social Commentary in Contemporary American Art
October 28 – March 11, 2022
Artists confront the legacies of past injustices in Facing History: Social Commentary in Contemporary American Art. Drawn from the Benton’s collection, these works explore issues of colonialism, gender and ethnic bias, and oppression through a variety of means. Some artists juxtapose appropriated imagery and symbols to subvert dominant narratives. Others use the language of advertising to level their critique. By drawing attention to difficult aspects of American history and culture, these works demand change while underscoring the enduring impacts of the past on contemporary society.
The exhibition brings together works of art by Philip Guston, Guerrilla Girls, Melvin Edwards, Todd Gray, Kerry James Marshall, Enrique Chagoya, Roger Shimomura and Hank Willis Thomas. It is co-sponsored by the American Studies program at the University of Connecticut.
Encounters with the Collection: Wood
Encounters with the Collection: Wood is the first in a series of annual permanent collection gallery rotations that will bring fresh perspectives to the interpretation of the Benton’s holdings. This installation is a wide-ranging look at wood as a material in artmaking. The works of art were selected in collaboration with Chris Sancomb, Assistant Professor of Industrial Design in the Department of Art and Art History, School of Fine Arts.
The exhibition features paintings, sculptures, prints, and drawings created from the 15th to the 21st century. Among the artists included are Hyman Bloom, Aaron Bohrod, Jacques-Louis David, Albrecht Dürer, George Herms, Konishi Hirosada, Angelica Kauffmann, Ursula von Rydingsvard, and Frank Lloyd Wright.
Encounters with the Collection: Wood will be accompanied by a Guide-by-Cell program with remarks from Professor Sancomb and other members of the UConn community.
THE WILLIAM BENTON MUSEUM OF ART
University of Connecticut
School of Fine Arts
245 Glenbrook Road
Storrs, CT
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For more information, contact: The Benton Museum at 860-486-4520