Coming to America: Lachaise, Laurent, Nadelman, and Zorach, 1914 - 1945Coming to America: Lachaise, Laurent, Nadelman, and Zorach, 1914 - 1945
Gaston Lachaise, United States, born France, 1882-1935, Standing Woman, 1912-1927, Bronze, 72 x 28 x 17 (including bronze base), Philadelphia Museum of Art, Gift of R. Sturgis and Marion B.F. Ingersoll, 1962, 1962-182-1, © Gaston Lachaise Foundation Image Courtesy of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

October 14, 2017 - January 7, 2018

Coming to America: Lachaise, Laurent, Nadelman, and Zorach, 1914 - 1945

The sculptures of Gaston Lachaise, Robert Laurent, Elie Nadelman and William Zorach embody the vitality and vision of four modern artists who—arriving as immigrants in the United States from the growing turbulence of pre-war Europe—responded to the challenges and excitement of American life with extraordinary creativity. Through over 60 sculptures and a select group of drawings, the exhibition reveals their common artistic sources—ranging from ancient statuary to American popular and folk culture, while at the same time reveling in their stylistic individuality. Coming to America is a rare opportunity to explore the works of four major masters who redefined the expressive qualities of the human form in the modern age.

Pictured below, from left to right:

Robert Laurent, United States, born France, 1890-1970, The Bather, circa 1925, Alabaster, 26 3/4 x 22 1/16 x 13 9/16 inches, Brooklyn Museum, Carll H. de Silver Fund, 35.1009, © Estate of Robert Laurent, Image Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Elie Nadelman, United States, born  Poland, 1882-1946, Dancer, 1918, Cherry, mahogany, gesso, stain, and paint, 28 1/4 inches  (height), Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, CT, The Philip L. Goodwin Collection, Gift of James L. Goodwin, Henry Sage Goodwin, and Richmond L. Brown, 1958.224 © Estate of Elie Nadelman Photo by Allen Phillips / Wadsworth Atheneum

William Zorach, United States, born Lithuania, 1889-1966, Waterfall, 1917, Butternut, 15 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches, Lent by the Estate of Dr. Samuel and Adele Wolman © Reproduced with permission of the Zorach Collection, LLC Photo by Bruce Scharz

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Resources

The 901 Black American Portraits Soundtrack

The 901 Black American Portraits Soundtrack

Listen to a soundtrack of Memphis music that exemplifies Black Love, Power, and Joy. The 901 Black American Portraits Soundtrack celebrates the vibrant legacy and future of Black musicians in the city of Memphis. This playlist was curated by Jared “Jay B” Boyd, a Memphis-based multimedia artist, journalist, DJ, and on-air personality.

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MCA Exhibition Questionnaire

MCA Exhibition Questionnaire

Help us generate the fullest picture possible of the MCA experience.
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Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?

Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?

The American art theorist Linda Nochlin (1931-2017) posed this question as the title of a pioneering article in 1971. This essay was considered one of the first major works of Feminist art history, it has become a set text for those who study art internationally, and it is influential in many other fields.

Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists? by Linda Nochlin