The Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations, as thousands of visitors come here to run up the famous “Rocky steps” each year. However, the true wonders are to be found inside of the museum’s walls. This museum has a massive collection of over 240,000 pieces of art from throughout Europe, the Americas, and Asia – along with a variety of temporary exhibits of art from across the globe. Our Philadelphia adoption professionals love taking family trips here when we want to introduce our kids to some culture. Some of our favorite current exhibitions at the art museum include:
Modern Times: American Art 1910-1950
During the early 20th century, the world underwent some massive changes. Industry began to flourish and two World Wars reshaped the world. Technology began to progress at a rapid pace and by the end of the 20th century, our way of life had drastically changed. This exhibit shows how American artists during the first part of that century responded to the changes happening around them through their artwork. Notable artists with works on display here include Georgia O’Keefe, Marsden Hartley, Jacob Lawrence, and many others.
Rachel Rose: Wil-o-Wisp/The Future Fields Commission
Rachel Rose is a contemporary American artist best known for her video installations. Her works combine moving images and sound with detailed environments which connect to broad but related subjects. In Wil-O-Wisp, Rose depicts England in the late 1500s. She shows how magic and coincidence create the fate of a woman named Elspeth Blake. The story takes place during England’s Enclosure Movement when communal land was privatized, which lead to violent protests.
Design in Revolution: A 1960s Odyssey
In the 1960s, the United States began to undergo a social revolution in which several types of cultural norms were challenged. The civil rights and anti-war movements helped influence the art of this time period. The popularization of psychedelia and Pop Art also occurred during this time period. Some highlights from this exhibit include a collection of vintage rock ‘n’ roll posters and a series of images of Martin Luther King Jr.
Now, She: Two Sculptures by Ursula von Rydingsvard
Open until April 2019, this temporary year-long exhibition includes two breathtaking sculptures by Ursula von Rydingsvard in the Museum’s Sculpture Garden. These abstract sculptures were built with cedar before being cast in bronze and urethane resin. We highly recommend taking a walk through the majestic Sculpture Garden and taking the time to appreciate the variety of sculptures on display there.
Biting Wit and Brazen Folly: British Satirical Prints, 1780s-1830s
During 19th and 18th century England, satire caricatures were extremely popular. These funny images would often seem lighthearted at first, but there were all kinds of details which had broader satirical connotations. This exhibition shows how different figures in society were caricatured during this time period.
