ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
For America: Paintings from the National Academy of Design
Stitzer Family Gallery, Robert and Dorothy Vance Gallery, and Richard and Virginia McKernan Gallery
Founded
in New York City in 1825 by artists including Samuel F.B. Morse, Asher
B. Durand, and Thomas Cole, The National Academy of Design is the oldest
artist honorary society in the United States. From its inception to the
present, the NAD has required all Academicians to donate a
representative work to the Academy’s collection, and, from 1839 to 1994,
the Academy also required Associates to present a portrait of
themselves, whether painted by their own hand or that of a fellow
artist. Over the decades, this rule has resulted in a distinctive
collection of American art that today totals over 8,000 works and
includes nearly every major American artist. For America: Paintings from the National Academy of Design
is the first exhibition to highlight this decisive feature of the
collection—the joint presentation of an artist’s portrait with his or
her diploma works. Featuring over ninety paintings, the exhibition
presents not only a visual document of the Academy’s membership but a
unique history of American art from 1809 to present.
Sponsors:
The exhibition is organized by the American Federation of Arts and the National Academy of Design.
For America: Paintings from the National Academy of Design is supported by the JFM Foundation, Monique Schoen Warshaw, and Steph and Jody La Nasa.
In New Britain, For America lead exhibition support is provided by the Jack Warner Foundation. Generous funding is also provided by The David T. Langrock Foundation, the Kathryn Cox Special Exhibitions Fund, and Dr. Timothy P. McLaughlin and Dr. Marian Kellner.
Additional support of For America is provided by the Special Exhibition Fund donors, including John N. Howard, Sylvia Bonney, Anita Arcuni Ferrante and Anthony Ferrante, Marian and Russell Burke, and The Aeroflex Foundation. We also gratefully acknowledge the funding of Brendan and Carol Conry, Irene and Charles J. Hamm, and Carolyn and Elliot Joseph.
