Exhibitions : Current Exhibitions
Agents of Change: Mexican Muralists and New Deal Artists
Date(s): September 29, 2009 thru January 17, 2010
Agents of Change presents works from the 1920's and 1930's in the Museum's permanent collection by Mexican Muralists and artists in the United States' Works Progress Administration (WPA).
Formed during the Depression years and modeled after the program in Mexico, the WPA was intended to employ artists and adorn public spaces with works of art that might inspire and promote change. Socially conscious American artists were deeply influenced by the work of the Mexican Muralists and the change they instigated through their work.
Programming for this exhibition is made possible by a grant from the Nebraska Humanities Council.
Included in the exhibition will be the work of the Three Greats: Diego Rivera, Jose Orozco and David Siquieros who came to the United States in the 1930s and painted murals, conducted workshops and mentored American artists. It will also include other important Mexican Muralists whose names are less recognized. In addition the exhibition highlights the work of artists who participated in the WPA project, worked with the muralists in the United States and Mexico and used their art to incite social change. Some of these artists include Ben Shahn, Mabel Dwight, Howard Cook and Elizabeth Olds. To augment the works from the collection, the Sheldon will borrow additional pieces from the private collection of Judy and Norman Zlotsky.
To view artwork in this exhibition, please click: Agents of Change Slideshow
To listen to a podcast with Sheldon curator Sharon Kennedy, please click: Agents of Change Podcast
A gallery guide, in English and Spanish, is available to Museum visitors, or by clicking: Agents of Change Gallery Guide
Location: Sheldon
