Throughout the 20th century, artists absorbed new ideas spurred in part by European-American cultural exchange, giving rise to “modern art.” The surrealist Salvador Dali illustrated the inner world of the subconscious as theorized by Sigmund Freud, while other artists, influenced by Marxism, saw traditional forms of art and their standards as oppressive.

This quest for pure art, unconstrained by standards of skill, was a century-long attempt at defining art and its role in representing reality. This exhibition of what is called “realism” provides another answer with work by 36 artists whose obvious skill supports rather than constrains their artistic intent. They create by the forms and patterns of the world, savoring what can be seen and showing us its truth.

The exhibition will include 39 works from the FWMoA collection and borrowed works. Selected artists in the exhibition will include Mary Jane Ansell, Tom Blackwell, Aaron Bohrod, Rebecca Campbell, Will Cotton, George Deem, Gabriela Gonzalez Dellosso, Gary Erbe, De Scott Evans, Andrea Kowch, Clio Newton, Yigal Ozeri, Joel Daniel Phillips, Robert Schefman, John Seal, Jeanette Pasin Sloan, Maria Tomasula, Robert Vickrey, and N.C. Wyeth.

This exhibition is curated by Amanda Shepard, VP & COO, and is supported by the Edward D. and Ione Auer Foundation.