Exhibitions

 
 

AMERICA IN BLACK AND WHITE: DEPRESSION-ERA PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE FARM SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

April 15, 2024 - December 6, 2024

Stryker Center, 412 N. Boundary Street
The Muscarelle Museum of Art presents a selection of photographs from the Farm Security Administration, a New Deal-era project that created a pictorial record of American life between 1935-1944 and launched the careers of American photographers such as Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange and Gordon Parks. The Williamsburg Regional Library Gallery at the Stryker Center is open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Docent-led tours of the exhibition will be available Wednesdays from 2-4 PM and Fridays from 10 AM to noon. Other tours provided by request.

Upcoming

JACOB LAWRENCE: THE LIFE OF TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE

February 5, 2025 - May 23, 2025

Opening in early 2025, this exhibition will feature fifteen original silkscreens by one of America’s leading figurative twentieth-century artists, Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000). This series of prints on The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture provides a visual narrative of one the most consequential events in modern history. Under the direction of Associate Professor of Art History Sibel Zandi-Sayek, William & Mary students in the required practicum course for Art History majors, The Curatorial Project (ARTH 331), will design and deliver an exhibition featuring Lawrence’s highly colorful and dynamic works on the Haitian Revolution and its leader. In addition, the students will examine the literary and visual imaginings of Toussaint L’Ouverture and the Haitian Revolution and incorporate important and relevant materials from the Special Collections Research Center in the exhibition. The works were acquired by the Muscarelle in late 2022, and have never before been on display in the Museum.

 

MICHELANGELO: THE GENESIS OF THE SISTINE

March 6, 2025 - May 28, 2025

Bringing 24 rarely-displayed masterpiece drawings by Michelangelo to the United States, Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine will offer American viewers an unprecedented opportunity to experience first- hand the genius of the famed artist. Displaying Michelangelo’s initial studies and early drawings of the famous frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, the exhibition will explore the rich story of the origin of these works, arguably some of the most famous in the world.

Based on 15 years of scholarship by Muscarelle Curator of Special Projects Adriano Marinazzo, the exhibition will highlight new and compelling theories about Michelangelo’s work, including a comparison between “The Creation of Adam” and a self-portrait which suggests that the artist may have envisioned himself as the Creator.

 
 
 

Museum Expansion

 

The renovation and expansion of the Muscarelle is underway — a project that will triple the size of the Museum and transform it into a state-of-the-art regional venue for art exploration. While our building is closed, we continue to host exhibitions, workshops, special events and more. Subscribe to our mailing list to stay up-to-date.

 
 
 
 

Upcoming Events

 

Explore Virtual Exhibitions

 

Interact with previous exhibitions, watch virtual workshops, and discover other digital initiatives from the Museum.

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Forever Marked by a Day

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Rising
The American Indian Movement
and the Third Space of Sovereignty

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American Vision
A Tribute to Carroll Owens, Jr.

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Building on the Legacy
African American Art from the Permanent Collection

 

About the Muscarelle

 

The Muscarelle Museum of Art is a culturally-rich art institution serving as a dynamic resource for our community, a working laboratory for William & Mary, and a platform for visiting exhibitions and the Museum’s own collection.

Through staff commitment, faculty expertise, student service, and community collaboration, the Museum is proud to bring to life many opportunities and experiences.

 
 

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