140 Unlimited

A year-long, museum-wide exhibition, 140 Unlimited celebrates the overwhelming success of a campaign to raise 140 transformative gifts of art for MHCAM. Since that initiative was announced in 2011, contributions from alumnae, artists, prominent foundations, and other supporters have far exceeded that number.[...] Highlights from the campaign include a group of Asian ceramics and sculptures dating from the 1st to the 16th century; an exquisite ca. 1530 Italian pastiglia box; a Mannerist painting depicting Judith with the head of Holofernes; a selection of early-20th century Pueblo ceramics; a Mende dance mask from Sierra Leone; and an important sculpture by post-war artist Christopher Wilmarth. These remarkable gifts reflect the unlimited potential of the MHCAM collection to teach, delight, and inspire.

Throughout the Museum’s nine galleries—many of which are fully re-installed, with new, thematic introductions and labels—visitors will encounter more than 140 recent acquisitions interspersed with familiar works, as well as fascinating objects from the collection that have rarely, if ever, been exhibited. Decorative and utilitarian arts [...] are also on view: a testament to the Museum’s increasing engagement with material culture. Global contemporary art, an area of recent collecting focus, is showcased in the Harriet L. and Paul M. Weissman Gallery, and also in thought-provoking juxtapositions with historical objects all over the Museum.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.