On View
The Museum is currently closed for expansion, join us in February!
Join us February 8, 2024 in our expanded building, promising to be a state-of-the-art regional venue for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the broader community to come together to experience world-class exhibitions and robust academic programs.
About the Expansion
Upcoming
Jacob Lawrence: The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture
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.
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William & Mary Collects III
William & Mary Collects III, the first special exhibition to be unveiled in the newly expanded Muscarelle, will display significant works of art in a wide variety of media on loan from alumni and friends of the university. The first installment of William & Mary Collects coincided with the opening of the Museum in 1983, and the second installment was held in 2003 for its twentieth anniversary. William & Mary Collects III observes the expansion of the Museum and our 40 years of service to William & Mary, as well as the numerous individuals who have been integral in helping us achieve our mission during that time. Featuring ceramics, drawings, paintings, prints and sculpture, the exhibition showcases the remarkable scope of art collected by alumni and friends throughout the years. Culled from both private collections and donated works by alumni, some of which have never been on view, William & Mary Collects III reveals an extraordinary array of media, styles and time periods that have captivated these collectors.
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Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine
Bringing 25 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. Curated by Adriano Marinazzo, Muscarelle Curator of Special Projects, and based on his extensive scholarship, the exhibition highlights 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. Don't miss the rare opportunity to immerse yourself in Michelangelo's creative process. Examine drawings that reveal the artist’s work in progress, offering a unique glimpse into his dreams, personality, and inner struggles.
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