Architecture as Muse: American Skyline

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Architecture as Muse: American Skyline

The Sanford B. D. Low Illustration Gallery

In 2017, the New Britain Museum of American Art introduced Architecture as Muse, a series of exhibitions focusing on depictions of architecture by artists, illustrators, and trained architects, derived exclusively from the Museum’s permanent collection. While our first exhibition Architecture as Muse: The Grand Tour featured architectural subjects that artists encountered while traveling abroad, our newest iteration in the series turns its attention to the dynamic and eclectic architecture of the United States.

Architecture as Muse: American Skyline presents dramatic views by artists Childe Hassam (1859–1935), Ben Shahn (1898–1969), Fairfield Porter (1907–1975), and others, who were captivated by the energy, scale, and grandeur of American metropolises. The exhibition explores the rise of American cities, including Washington D.C., the “Big Apple,” and our own hometown of New Britain, and features some of our nation’s most iconic landmarks, such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Broadway, and the Washington Monument.