WILMINGTON, DE
Layered Abstraction: Margo Allman & Helen Mason
On view March 21 – September 6, 2020
This Distinguished Artist Series exhibition celebrates two women who have dedicated their artistic careers to exploring the infinite possibilities of abstraction. Margo Allman graduated from The Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia where she studied with the abstract expressionist artist Leonard Nelson and pursued further study with Hans Hofmann. Her prints, paintings, and sculpture are inspired by nature and a desire to bring form to the invisible. Helen Mason received her graduate degree from the University of Delaware and taught for nearly two decades at The Tatnall School in Wilmington. Materiality is a consistent inspiration for her as is Minimal art and the Japanese techniques of layering, bundling, gathering, knotting, and folding. For more than 50 years, Allman and Mason have challenged traditional expectations for contemporary art in the greater Brandywine Valley.
This exhibition is organized by the Delaware Art Museum.
Julio daCunha: Modernizing Myths
On view February 29 – May 10, 2020
Julio daCunha was born in 1929 in Bogota, Colombia. Following the completion of his master of fine arts degree at Cranbrook Academy of Art, daCunha arrived in Delaware in 1956 to teach at the University of Delaware. The artist places himself within the Spanish tradition and cites the influences of Arshile Gorky, Paul Klee, Pablo Picasso, Roberto Matta, and Francisco de Goya. While at the University, daCunha served as department chair from 1966 to 1969 and taught until his retirement in 1994, influencing generations of students who studied within the program. This Distinguished Artist Series exhibition will be assembled from the collections of the Delaware Art Museum, public institutions, and private collections showcasing the impact daCunha had on the community in which he lived.
This exhibition is organized by the Delaware Art Museum and Olivia Armandroff through the support of the Alfred Appel, Jr. Curatorial Fellowship.
Fantasy and the Medieval Past
On view September 26, 2020 – January 31, 2021
For the past 150 years, Americans have been fascinated by the medieval past. Drawing from the work of contemporary illustrators Tony DiTerlizzi, Leo and Diane Dillon, and Ian Schoenherr, as well as historical works from the Museum’s Howard Pyle collection, this exhibition takes a look at the fantasy medieval realms of some of our beloved young adult reads. From magical creatures, castle complexes, and images of knighthood, prepare to be transported into re-imaginations of the medieval world that reflect contemporary America’s changing understanding of gender equality, cultural identity, disability, and difference.
This exhibition is organized by the Delaware Art Museum and Emily Shartrand through the support of the University of Delaware’s Lynn Herrick Sharp Curatorial Fellowship.
Louis Comfort Tiffany: Treasures from the Driehaus Collection
On view October 17, 2020 – January 10, 2021
A celebration of beauty, Louis Comfort Tiffany: Treasures from the Driehaus Collection features more than 60 objects, spanning over 30 years of Tiffany’s prolific career. The exhibition showcases Tiffany’s innovative work in leaded and blown glass, including stellar examples of his famous windows, lamps, and vases. One of America’s most renowned artists, Louis Comfort Tiffany worked in nearly all of the media available to artists and designers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries—glass, ceramic, metalwork, jewelry, and painting. His love of the natural world inspired floral-themed vases and lamps, delicate vegetal candlesticks, and dramatic landscape windows. Tiffany earned international acclaim, receiving prestigious awards in exhibitions across Europe and the United States, and his busy studios produced a range of objects, from common household items to one-of-a-kind masterpieces. His work was enthusiastically collected by art museums and private collectors throughout his lifetime and continues to be highly sought after today. This exhibition revels in the artistry and craftsmanship of the Tiffany artworks from Chicago’s distinguished Richard H. Driehaus Collection, highlighting masterworks in a comprehensive exhibition curated by David A. Hanks.
Louis Comfort Tiffany: Treasures from the Driehaus Collection was organized by the Richard H. Driehaus Museum and is toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC.
In addition to the sponsors identified for each exhibition, support for the 2020 slate of exhibitions is provided, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on on www.DelawareScene.com.
# ## #
Delaware Art Museum
For over 100 years, the Museum has served as a primary arts and cultural institution in Delaware. It is alive with experiences, discoveries, and activities to connect people with art and with each other. Originally created in 1912 to honor the renowned illustrator and Wilmington-native, Howard Pyle, the Museum’s collection has grown to over 12,000 works of art in our building and sculpture garden. Also recognized for British Pre-Raphaelite art, the Museum is home to the largest and most important Pre-Raphaelite collection outside of the United Kingdom and a growing collection of significant contemporary art.
Under the leadership of our Board of Trustees, the Delaware Art Museum is implementing a comprehensive approach to community and civic engagement. This exciting new strategic direction requires that we increase our value and relevance to all audiences. Visit delart.org to for the latest exhibitions, programs, and performances or connect with us via social media.
###