Farnsworth Art Museum Announces New Series: “In Focus,” New exhibitions to highlight favorites, classics, and new acquisitions
Rockland, ME – The Farnsworth Art Museum is pleased to announce In Focus, a new series of special collection exhibitions that re-examine narratives in American art across time and media. As the cornerstone of the Farnsworth Art Museum, the permanent collection continues to grow and now totals nearly 16,000 objects. With new juxtapositions, this series presents an opportunity to engage with evolving conversations and important topics in the field today. Each In Focus presentation offers a thematic lens through which visitors can explore Maine’s role in American art.
“In Focus is a natural extension of this, reaffirming our dedication to preserving and presenting the rich legacy of American art, with Maine at its heart,” said Executive Director Christopher J. Brownawell. “Over the last several years we’ve expanded our collecting practices to tell a more inclusive and thoughtful history.”
These collection-focused exhibitions invite visitors to reconnect with familiar works while experiencing them in fresh contexts and new thematic groupings. By reinterpreting beloved pieces, the In Focus series will offer moments to spark renewed curiosity and deepen understanding of the Museum’s holdings.
“I’ve been thinking about unexpected pairings and what new dialogues they would foster,” said Francesca Soriano, Associate Curator of American Art. “My goal is to shed new light on our historic objects by both reinterpreting audience favorites and highlighting works that have seldom been on view.”
The series will launch in the summer of 2025 with two projects:
In Focus: Early American Art, July 19, 2025 – Through 2026
In Focus: Early American Art invites visitors to delve into the Museum’s exceptional holdings of American art from the 18th to early 20th century. Featuring both iconic pieces and recent acquisitions, the show offers a fresh perspective on American art history. Through portraits, landscapes, and Wabanaki baskets, the exhibition broadens our understanding of the country’s cultural heritage and artistic legacy, and Maine’s role within it.
In Focus: The Figure Today, August 2, 2025 – January 2026
In Focus: The Figure Today presents a dynamic exploration of the figure in contemporary practice. Anchored by major recent acquisitions by painters Bo Bartlett (born 1955), Jamie Wyeth (born 1946), and Ruby Sky Stiller (born 1979), the presentation also features works by Alex Katz (born 1927), Reggie Burrows Hodges (born 1965), and others. Together, these works reflect the enduring power of the figure in American art and the innovative ways artists continue to engage with the human form today.
ABOUT THE FARNSWORTH ART MUSEUM
Named by the Boston Globe as one of the finest small museums in the country, the Farnsworth Art Museum offers a nationally recognized collection of works from many of America’s greatest artists. It is open year-round as the only museum dedicated solely to American- and Maine-inspired art. Through its remarkable collection of nearly 16,000 works, inventive exhibitions, wide-ranging intellectual resources, and energetic educational programming, visitors from around the world gain a deep appreciation of the ongoing story of Maine’s role in American art. More information about the Museum can be found at www.farnsworthmuseum.org.