Houseguests: American Art from the Art Bridges Collection Loan Partnership

This exhibition showcases fourteen works of American art, generously lent by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art as part of the Art Bridges’ Collection Loan Partnership initiative. After the joint presentation in this exhibition, selected works will be integrated at different times in varying juxtapositions into our permanent collection galleries, through May 28, 2023.

There is no single theme or narrative embedded in the selection of these long-term loans, but they span well over a century, represent a range of styles and approaches, and include paintings, sculpture, and video.

In this inaugural installation, our houseguests can get to know each other and engage in some stimulating conversations amongst themselves. Later, when they move to their own rooms, these houseguests will participate in different dialogues, enriching the Ackland’s presentation not only of modern and contemporary American art, but also art of other periods and places.

The exhibition includes works by Alexander Pope, Max Weber, Stuart Davis, George Bellows, Edward Melcarth, Theodore Stamos, Julian Stanczak, Tom Wesselmann, Leon Polk Smith, Mark Tansey, Sheila Gallagher, Dave Greber, Kelsey Brookes, and Elizabeth Alexander.

Art Bridges is the vision of philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton. The mission of Art Bridges is to expand access to American art in all regions across the United States. Since 2017, Art Bridges has been creating and supporting programs that bring outstanding works of American art out of storage and into communities. Art Bridges partners with a growing network of nearly 170 museums of all sizes and locations to provide financial and strategic support for exhibition development, loans from the Art Bridges collection, and programs designed to educate, inspire, and deepen engagement with local audiences.

Houseguests: American Art from the Art Bridges Collection Loan Partnership is generously lent by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art as part of Art Bridges’ Collection Loan Partnership.

Image credit: Edward Melcarth (1914-1973), Manhole, 1959, oil on canvas, 70 x 70 in. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, Gift of Kip and Astrid Forbes, in honor of Alice Walton, 2014.15. Photography by Edward C. Robinson III.