On view August 7 – November 30, 2025
Discover the rich story of how American artists adapted and transformed Impressionism in In a New Light: American Impressionism 1870–1940. This major exhibition traces the movement’s journey from its French origins to its dynamic reinterpretation across the United States, revealing how artists blended European influences with American landscapes, cities, and everyday life.
Featuring more than 100 paintings and works on paper from the Bank of America Collection, In a New Light offers a vibrant look at the evolution of American art during a time of national reflection and renewal. Many artists featured in the exhibition studied abroad—particularly in France—where they embraced plein air painting and the bold color and light of Impressionism. Upon returning home, they helped shape a new artistic language rooted in American identity and place.
Organized geographically, the exhibition highlights artists working in key American art colonies, from the coasts of California and New England to the deserts of New Mexico and the streets of Chicago. Visitors will encounter panoramic landscapes by Hudson River School artists, tonal works influenced by the Barbizon School, and expressive paintings by renowned Impressionists like Childe Hassam, Daniel Garber, and Guy Carleton Wiggins.
The gallery installation follows a salon-style presentation, immersing guests in the diversity and energy of the era. Alongside iconic Impressionist scenes are works by American Realists and Tonalists, offering insight into the wide range of artistic voices that helped define the American experience at the turn of the 20th century.
This exhibition has been loaned through the Bank of America Art in our Communities® program.
