"Marsden Hartley: Adventurer in the Arts" opens April 5

The New Mexico Museum of Art is proud to present Marsden Hartley: Adventurer in the Arts, a groundbreaking exhibition celebrating the life and work of Marsden Hartley (1877–1943). Known as the “painter of Maine,” Hartley was a pioneering figure in American modernism whose travels and personal mementos profoundly shaped his artistic vision.

Opening April 5, 2025, the exhibition, developed by the Vilcek Foundation in collaboration with the Bates College Museum of Art, features more than 40 paintings and drawings spanning 36 years of Hartley’s career, alongside personal artifacts that reveal his lifelong wanderlust and artistic vision. Highlights include Schiff (1915), a seminal work from Hartley’s time in Germany, which will be shown in the United States for only the second time. Artworks from the Vilcek and Bates collections are complemented by three important paintings from the New Mexico Museum of Art collection.

“This exhibition offers an intimate glimpse into Hartley’s artistic journey, showcasing not only his remarkable paintings but also the keepsakes and memories that shaped his life,” said NMMOA Executive Director Dr. Mark White. “Through his art and his mementos, we see a man constantly searching for inspiration, rooted in a profound connection to the places he called home.”

In addition to Hartley’s iconic works, visitors will discover personal objects—including postcards, pressed flowers, and photographs—that reveal the depth of his connection to the places he traveled. These objects, shown alongside his paintings, provide a deeper understanding of Hartley’s creative process and the role of place in shaping his art.

Marsden Hartley: Adventurer in the Arts is a must-see exhibition for art lovers, history enthusiasts, and anyone drawn to the intersection of travel and creativity.

About The New Mexico Museum of Art    

 The New Mexico Museum of Art is a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. Programs and exhibits are supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and its donors. The mission of the Museum of Art is to create authentic experiences that foster a deeper understanding and enjoyment of art throughout our state. With a collection of more than 20,000 pieces of work, the museum brings the art of the world to New Mexico and the art of New Mexico to the world.

The Vilcek Foundation was established in 2000 by Jan and Marica Vilcek, immigrants from the former Czechoslovakia. The mission of the foundation—to honor immigrant contributions to the United States and, more broadly, to foster appreciation of the arts and sciences—was inspired by the couple’s respective careers in biomedical science and art history. The foundation awards annual prizes to immigrant biomedical scientists and artists, sponsors cultural programs, and manages the Vilcek Foundation Art Collections.

The Marsden Hartley Memorial Collection at Bates College Museum of Art holds over 100 drawings, several paintings, and an incredible array of Hartley’s possessions, including objects from his studio, books, souvenirs, cultural objects from his travels, and other memorabilia. The extensive collection also features 160 books from Hartley’s library, original manuscripts of poems, photographs from throughout his life, and postcards from his travels. Bates College Museum of Art is also home to The Marsden Hartley Legacy Project: The Complete Paintings and Works on Paper.