Exhibitions at a Glance

Exhibitions at the Katonah Museum of Art range from realism to abstraction, from ancient artifacts to cutting edge contemporary, from traditional painting to recycled plastics. Every few months the Museum is transformed. During the school year, this diverse schedule offers educators and students multiple opportunities to explore visual history and connect their Museum experience to classroom learning. In addition, every year an exhibition of student artwork is displayed throughout the Museum.

On View October 9, 2022 – January 22, 2023

Tenacity & Resilience: The Art of Jerry Pinkney
In the Main Galleries

Featuring more than seventy illustrations, dummy books, and working drawings from seven children’s books published from 1993 to 2020, this exhibition immerses visitors in the art and powerful visual story telling of renowned illustrator Jerry Pinkney (1939-2021). Encompassing themes of social justice, resilience, and tenacity in the face of adversity, the works convey compelling messages related to the history of the civil rights movement in America as well as personal tales of courage and aspiration. The range of artworks reveals Pinkney’s masterful talents as an inspired watercolorist, draftsman, and storyteller. Through inquiry-based tours, students investigate Pinkney’s artistic process from sketch to completed book; delve into the significance of centralizing black characters and histories; and analyze narrative components of character, setting, story, and mood. A hands-on watercolor illustration activity is included in all tours.

This exhibition has been generously underwritten in part by the Pollack Family Foundation, Gail Bryan, La Ruth Hackney Gray, and additional supporters who cherish and respect Jerry Pinkney and his important legacy.

This exhibition was organized by Gail Stavitsky, Chief Curator, Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, New Jersey. All MAM programs are made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, The Vance Wall Foundation, Partners for Health Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and Museum members.

A Sense of Community: Celebrating Jerry Pinkney’s Legacy
In the Spot Gallery and Learning Center

Co-curated by James Ransome, Emily Handlin, and Naomi Leiseroff, the exhibition explorese Pinkney's role as a mentor to, and model for, illustrators of color. It showcases the work of nine contemporary illustrators—Charnelle Pinkney Barlow, Elbrite Brown, Bryan Collier, Gordon James, Oge Mora, Brian Pinkney, James Ransome, Shadra Strickland, and Eric Velasquez—who are, like Pinkney, dedicated to making children’s literature more inclusive and diverse

This project is made possible with funds from ReStart the Arts, a regrant program of ArtsWestchester with support from the Office of the Governor, the New York State Legislature, and the New York State Council on the Arts.

On view February 5 – 26, 2023

Young Artists 2023
Celebrating 40 years of the Young Artists exhibition!

Open to KMA member high schools, this annual exhibition of senior students' artwork gives aspiring artists an opportunity to work behind-the-scenes to produce a museum exhibition. In the course of many months they take on the roles of graphic designer, curator, exhibition designer, art installer, and artist as they collaborate with Museum professionals to produce their own exhibition. Contact education@katonahmuseum.org; 914-232-9555, ext. 2969 to find out how your school can participate.

On View March 12 – June 25, 2023

Miniature Worlds: Ray Johnson, Joseph Cornell, and Yayoi Kusama

Works by Joseph Cornell, Ray Johnson, and Yayoi Kusama come together in this exhibition that explores the friendships, visual conversations, and shared artistic sensibilities of three significant artists. On view will be mixed-media works created by Kusama using collage materials given to her by Cornell; examples of Cornell’s Aviary and Habitat boxes; Kusama’s box construction from the 1980s; assemblages that Cornell created for and dedicated to Kusama; and a collection of Cornell portraits and collages created by Johnson alongside Cornell works that influenced them. Through visual investigation students will trace the dialogue and shared artistic language formed between these artists and examine the symbolic imagery and unique collage and assemblage techniques used by the artists. Students will also create their own collage art inspired by the works on view.