Lecture: William L. Coleman, Ph.D, The Stakes of American Art: Land, Labor, and Legacy

Friday, January 8th, 2027 at 6:00PM

Free and open to the public

As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the stakes for American art have never been higher. Landscape painting has long been tasked with conveying ideas about nationhood, citizenship, and progress, while also serving as a vehicle for quiet statements from those who felt out of step with the mainstream. The role of historical artworks—such as those in From Sea to Shining Sea—in the twenty-first century clarifies the extent to which these old paintings continue to convey national ideas. This lecture locates the works in the exhibition within the continuing saga of how the United States has represented itself to itself. 

William L. Coleman, Ph.D., is a curator, writer, and teacher specializing in the art of the United States, with a particular research focus on the history of landscape painting. He serves as Director of the Wyeth Study Center and as Wyeth Foundation Curator at the Brandywine Museum of Art in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, with additional responsibilities at the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, ME. Recent multi-author books he has led include By Design: The Worlds of Betsy James Wyeth and Rockwell Kent: The Work of Art, coming in 2027. More information about his projects and commitments can be found at WilliamLColeman.com

*Space is limited, so please register early!