Dear Friends,
Please join us and come together at the MFA this summer to experience, see, and understand the world through the lens of art. There is much on view, and much to discover. Enjoy the cool of the galleries and exceptional exhibitions. Come on your own. Share the experience with friends and family.
Great 20th-century and contemporary painting are showcased in “Mural: Jackson Pollock | Katharina Grosse” pairing Jackson Pollock’s massive 1943 breakthrough painting, Mural, with a specially commissioned new work by contemporary German artist Katharina Grosse.
“Hyman Bloom: Matters of Life and Death,” opening July 13, examines the pioneering Boston artist who—at the same time Pollock explored abstract expressionism—made brave, beautiful, compelling works, firmly rooted in representations of the human body.
Enter the world of fantasy in a pair of exhibitions opening July 20. “Kay Nielsen’s Enchanted Vision: The Kendra and Allan Daniel Collection” features haunting interpretations of classic fairy tales by the celebrated book illustrator, as well as his work in theater design and animation. “Make Believe” brings together five contemporary artists whose fantastical photographs address a range of social and cultural issues.
Also opening July 20 are the distinct spaces of our new Arts of Islamic Cultures Gallery, carefully designed—with the collaboration of Islamic, artistic, and scholarly communities—to expand how visitors see and understand these diverse arts and rich artistic traditions.
And in August, “Viewpoints: Photographs from the Howard Greenberg Collection” brings together some of the most enduring and poignant photographs of the 20th century. These exceptional prints from a renowned collection—recently acquired through a major gift to the Museum—represent our deep commitment to sharing stories that celebrate photography as a social, cultural, and political force.
Be sure to enjoy the final weeks of the vibrant “Toulouse-Lautrec and the Stars of Paris,” on view through August 4, and the immersive and provocative “Gender Bending Fashion” in our contemporary galleries in the Linde Family Wing, on view through August 25.
Summer means we can come together to enjoy the arts outdoors. Join us for art making, music, films, and more on summer nights. Enjoy a live concert every Wednesday night in an outdoor setting with Elaine and Jerome Rosenfeld Concerts in the Courtyard, or Sunset Cinema, an open invitation to free outdoor movie screenings: July 11, August 15, and September 12.
Night or day, indoors or out, join us at the MFA this summer, to connect, share, and discover new ways of seeing the world.
Matthew Teitelbaum
Ann and Graham Gund Director