The BIGGS Museum

Rozeal.: Want Not (Rescue from the Otherwise Obscene, Salvation from the Wicked)
2024-10-03 - 2025-03-02
OCTOBER 3, 2024 – MARCH 2, 2025
The Biggs will close out the year with a blockbuster exhibition by renowned artist Rozeal. Titled Rozeal.: Want Not (Rescue from the Otherwise Obscene, Salvation from the Wicked), Rozeal’s contemporary paintings blend traditional ukiyo-e print techniques with Japanese folklore, geisha, kabuki, and samurai imagery, infused with hip-hop references and African American culture.

Kinetic Wonders: Sculptures by Paul Daniel
2024-10-30 - 2025-11-02
OCTOBER 30, 2024 – NOVEMBER 2, 2025
Discover the captivating artistry of Paul Daniel in this outdoor exhibition featuring five dynamic kinetic sculptures on the grounds of the Biggs Museum. These mesmerizing works of art come alive with motion, responding to the natural elements around them. Each piece showcases Daniel’s masterful blend of engineering and creativity, inviting visitors to experience art in harmony with nature. Perfect for all ages, this public display offers a unique opportunity to explore the interplay of movement, design, and imagination. Don’t miss this inspiring celebration of kinetic art!

ART WORKS FOR ALL - CELEBRATION OF CREATIVITY
2025-02-15 - 2025-04-06
ART WORKS FOR ALL – CELEBRATION OF CREATIVITY
February 15 – April 6, 2025
Join us for Celebration of Creativity, an inspiring exhibition showcasing the incredible talents and diverse perspectives of artists with disabilities. This vibrant display highlights the transformative power of the arts to enrich lives, build confidence, and foster a sense of community.
Featuring works across various mediums the exhibition celebrates individuality and the limitless possibilities of creative expression. Each piece tells a unique story, reflecting the resilience, imagination, and passion of its creator.
Through Celebration of Creativity, Art Works for All reaffirms its commitment to empowering individuals with disabilities by providing meaningful opportunities to explore and develop their artistic potential.

Art Works for All is a statewide nonprofit organized through the Art Center/Gallery at Delaware State University in Dover, DE
The Celebration of Creativity 2024 exhibition is funded, in part, by the generosity of M&T Bank

ADOPT-AN-ARTWORK: STUDENT EXHIBITION
2025-03-13 - 2025-05-04
ADOPT-AN-ARTWORK: STUDENT EXHIBITION
March 13 – May 4, 2025
Celebrate the creativity and talent of young artists from across Delaware at the Adopt-an-Artwork Student Exhibition! This annual showcase features artwork by students from preschool through high school, each inspired by pieces in the Biggs Museum’s collection.
As part of the Adopt-an-Artwork program, classrooms “adopt” a specific piece of art from the museum’s collection to explore in depth. Guided by their teachers and inspired by the themes, techniques, and history of their adopted artwork, students create their own original pieces, reflecting their unique interpretations and creative voices.
The exhibition highlights the power of art to ignite curiosity, foster learning, and connect students with their cultural heritage. Visitors will enjoy a vibrant mix of mediums and styles, from colorful paintings and sculptures to innovative mixed-media creations.
This program and exhibition was made possible through generous support from:

THE PRINTS OF ROCKWELL KENT: Selections from the Ralf C. Nemec Collection
2025-03-20 - 2025-08-10
THE PRINTS OF ROCKWELL KENT:
Selections from the Ralf C. Nemec Collection
MARCH 20 – AUGUST 10, 2025
Artist and activist Rockwell Kent (1882-1971) was a household name. Best-known for his iconic images of the earth’s harsh and frozen extremities, Kent often explored the relationship between humans and nature. As an author, he published thrilling accounts of his own expeditions to Newfoundland, Alaska, Tierra del Fuego, and Greenland. As an illustrator, he created editions of literary classics like the Old English epic Beowulf, Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, and Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. This exhibition showcases selections from the Ralf C. Nemec Collection, the largest assemblage of Kent’s prints in the world.
The exhibition was organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions, Los Angeles, CA.
This exhibition was made possible with support from L& W Insurance.

Special One-Object Exhibition: Musical Molinology
2025-05-01 - 2025-08-10
Special One-Object Exhibition: Musical Molinology
MAY 1 – AUGUST 10, 2025
📍 On view all summer in the Biggs Museum Atrium
Experience the magic of movement and music with Musical Molinology, a captivating kinetic sculpture that combines craftsmanship, engineering, and artistic expression. Inspired by the study of molinology—the science of mills and mechanical devices powered by wind, water, animals, or human energy—this hand-cranked wonder sets a complex chain of wooden gears and shafts into motion. As the mechanism turns, thirteen cams lift and lower wands that raise delicate turned Christmas ornaments, while another gear triggers hammers to strike rosewood marimba bars, playing a melodic tune.
The pegs in the gear mechanism can be rearranged, allowing the music to change. The current composition, “Marimba Etude (Take 3) + Summertime,” was specially created for the sculpture by New York-based musician Anna Huang and fits within the instrument’s 20-note limit.
Created by members of the First State Woodturners for the American Association of Woodturners’ 2015 Chapter Collaborative Challenge, this interactive piece won Best in Show and was featured on the back cover of American Woodturner magazine. Visitors of all ages are invited to turn the crank and bring this ingenious artwork to life—on view and playable throughout the summer in the Biggs Museum Atrium!

AWARD WINNERS XXV: Delaware Division of the Arts Individual Artist Fellows
2025-05-15 - 2025-09-14
AWARD WINNERS XXV
Delaware Division of the Arts Individual Artist Fellows
MAY 15 – SEPTEMBER 14, 2025
The Biggs Museum of American Art is proud to present Award Winners XXV, a group exhibition celebrating the recipients of the 2025 Delaware Division of the Arts Individual Artist Fellowships. These prestigious awards recognize Delaware-based artists for their exceptional creative work and contribution to the state’s vibrant cultural landscape.
This year, 191 artists submitted work in a variety of disciplines including choreography, music, literature, folk arts, media, and visual arts. Through a competitive review process conducted by out-of-state arts professionals, twenty-one artists were selected for fellowships in the following categories: one Master, eleven Established, and nine Emerging artists. An additional thirteen artists were recognized as runners-up. The awardees represent communities across Delaware—from Bear and Lewes to Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach.
Award Winners XXV offers a compelling glimpse into the diverse talent and innovative spirit of Delaware’s arts community. Visitors will encounter an array of artistic expressions that reflect the breadth of creativity fostered through the state’s Individual Artist Fellowship program. In addition to this exhibition at the Biggs Museum, the show will travel to Historic Odessa Foundation and the Rehoboth Art League, broadening public access to these important works.
To further explore the Fellows’ work, visit the special showcase on DelawareScene.com.

Comic Couture: Beyond the Panels
2025-06-12 - 2025-06-29
Comic Couture: Beyond the Panels
Curated by The Bridge Art Gallery
JUNE 12 – JUNE 29, 2025
Bold, brilliant, and bursting with style—Comic Couture pushes the boundaries of comic-inspired art. This high-concept exhibition fuses pop culture with elevated aesthetics, showcasing works that reinterpret iconic comic elements like speech bubbles, panels, and heroes through the lens of fine art. Featuring a dynamic group of artists, it’s a visual journey that honors the power of narrative, fantasy, and design.
On view on the 1st Floor

Featured Image: “PEONY” by Corinth Boone

Keith Duncan: Battle of the Bands - The HBCU Marching Bands Series
2025-09-04 - 2026-01-25
Exhibition Featured on the 3rd Floor
Battle of the Bands, Keith Duncan’s most recent body of work, celebrates the vibrant tradition of Historically Black College and University (HBCU) marching bands. This exhibition features large-scale fabric paintings of fifteen Southern HBCU bands, along with human-scale fabric paintings and smaller works on paper depicting each band’s drum major.
Keith Duncan is a contemporary artist and educator based in New Orleans, Louisiana. A visual storyteller, Duncan draws inspiration from personal narrative, community engagement, news media, art history, Black culture and the traditions of New Orleans. While his studio practice is firmly rooted in painting and drawing, his process is expansive, adroitly incorporating paper collage and textile art. Duncan’s layered integration of wallpaper and textiles is deliberate, drawn from the influences of ancestral heritage, Southern tradition, and contemporary aesthetics of material exploration. While referencing African textile traditions and Southern traditions in handcrafts (especially the quilters of Gee’s Bend) – his formal practice is informed by the material exploration of artists including Faith Ringgold and Mickalene Thomas, while his gestural figuration and painterly style can be compared to artists such as Willie Birch and Robert Colescott. At its core, though, Duncan’s practice is narrative, and his voice is wholly his own.
With Battle of the Bands, Keith Duncan displays his full formal acumen and narrative prowess as a painter. Like all of Duncan’s work, it is figurative, personal and rooted in the celebration of his community. Through telling this story, he focuses the viewer’s attention on the cultural significance of the HBCU marching band tradition. It also opens dialogue around the rich history of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the increasingly important role they play at this moment in American history.

Keith Duncan: Battle of the Bands, The HBCU Marching Bands Series is organized by the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

Support provided by Art Bridges

Alongside this featured exhibition, The Biggs will host “Approaching Storm,” a show focused on the marching band at Delaware State University (DSU). The university is nationally ranked as one of the top HBCUs in the country.

Keith Duncan

Southern University Marching Band

2023

Acrylic, marker and fabric on unstretched canvas

74.5 x 108 inches

© Keith Duncan. Courtesy of the artist and Fort Gansevoort, New York

Keith Duncan Morehouse College Drum Major 2023 Acrylic, marker and patterned paper on paper 24 x 18 inches © Keith Duncan. Courtesy of the artist and Fort Gansevoort, New York

Keith Duncan

Howard University Drum Major

2023

Acrylic, marker and patterned paper on paper

24 x 18 inches

© Keith Duncan. Courtesy of the artist and Fort Gansevoort, New York

Keith Duncan Grambling State University Marching Band 2022 Acrylic, marker and fabric on unstretched canvas 73 x 102 inches © Keith Duncan. Courtesy of the artist and Fort Gansevoort, New York

Keith Duncan Alabama State University Drum Major 2024 62 x 49 inches Acrylic, marker and fabric on unstretched canvas © Keith Duncan. Courtesy of the artist and Fort Gansevoort, New York

Echoes of the Storm: a DSU Collaborative Exhibition
2025-09-18 - 2026-01-11
This fall, the Biggs Museum of American Art will spotlight Delaware State University (DSU) and its celebrated marching band as part of a museum-wide celebration of HBCU culture, anchored by the exhibition Keith Duncan: Battle of the Bands, The HBCU Marching Bands Series.
On view from September 4, 2025 through January 25, 2026, Battle of the Bands features 45 large-scale fabric paintings and works on paper by acclaimed New Orleans-based artist Keith Duncan. These vibrant compositions bring to life the pageantry, tradition, and community pride of fifteen Southern HBCU marching bands and their drum majors.
Alongside this major exhibition, the Biggs will host Echoes of the Storm, on view September 18, 2025 through January 11, 2026, focusing exclusively on the history and impact of the DSU Marching Band, Approaching Storm. This show will feature artwork created by DSU students, archival artifacts, and materials highlighting the university’s legacy as one of the nation’s top-ranked HBCUs. The exhibition opens with a community happy hour reception on September 18, 2025.
The Biggs & DSU collaboration is rooted in student engagement and leadership. This fall, five DSU interns have joined The Biggs’ team, working across departments to gain real-world museum experience. In addition, seven DSU students are contributing directly to the development and installation of Echoes of the Storm, curating content, researching band history, and preparing materials for display.
The celebration continues with a special live performance by the DSU Marching Band at The Biggs’ major annual fundraiser, a farm-to-table Harvest Party, on September 20, 2025.
Together, Battle of the Bands and Echoes of the Storm offer a powerful look at the past, present, and future of HBCU marching band culture through world-class art and meaningful community partnerships.

Awash in Color: Recent Work from the Delaware Watercolor Society
2025-10-02 - 2026-01-11
This juried exhibition showcases outstanding works created by members of the Delaware Watercolor Society within the past five years. Featuring a diverse range of subjects, styles, and techniques, the exhibition highlights the versatility and expressive power of watercolor as an artistic medium. Visitors are invited to experience the creativity and talent of regional artists whose work reflects both contemporary perspectives and time-honored traditions in watercolor painting.

Reflections: 25 Objects for 250 Years of Delaware History
2026-01-02 10:00 - 2027-01-03 17:00 (America/New_York)
2nd Floor, Interspersed with the Permanent Collection
Reflections: 25 Objects for 250 Years of Delaware History
January 2, 2026 – January 3, 2027
During 2026, we celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary—reflecting on our shared history as well as our aspirations for future generations. This exhibition is drawn from the museum’s permanent collection and curated entirely by members of our Delaware community.
Community Curators were selected to reflect a wide range of perspectives across the state. Each one was tasked with selecting and writing about an object they believed represented the region’s history or felt particularly relevant to our contemporary moment. Participants included: Aubrey Plaza, actor, writer, and producer; Ken Burns, documentary filmmaker; U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE); Col. Jamil I. Musa, Commander, 436th Airlift Wing, Dover Air Force Base; Sam and Mariah Calagione, Co-Founders of Dogfish Head craft brewery; and Murray Archibald, Co-Founder of CAMP Rehoboth, an LGBTQ+ community center.
In celebration of Delaware’s role in the founding of the United States and the nation’s 250th anniversary, the Biggs Museum of American Art presents Reflections: 25 Objects for 250 Years of Delaware History. Drawn from the Museum’s permanent collection, the exhibition was curated entirely by members of our Delaware community, including actor, writer, and producer Aubrey Plaza and documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.
Each Community Curator chose a work of art they believed represented the region’s history or felt particularly relevant to our current moment. Then, they wrote a response to explain their choice, drawing on their own unique background, expertise, and lived experience. These responses appear on wall labels in the exhibition and will be shared on the Museum’s website and social media throughout 2026.
The exhibition’s Community Curators reflect a wide range of fields and perspectives from across the state. They include: Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), U.S. Senator for Delaware; Col. Jamil I. Musa, USAF, Commander, 436th Airlift Wing, Dover Air Force Base; Sam and Mariah Calagione, co-founders of Dogfish Head; Murray Archibald, Artist and co-founder of CAMP Rehoboth; and Joyce Enzor Maust, Current DE House of Representatives Poet Laureate. Additional participants include environmental stewards, historians, craftspeople, arts leaders, educators, health care providers, and civic voices.
Their responses address themes such as time and memory, land and stewardship, freedom and resistance, craft and labor, identity and belonging, and the enduring power of creativity in moments of change. From colonial furniture and Revolutionary-era imagery to contemporary sculpture and works shaped by nature, the exhibition reveals how Delaware’s history is both deeply rooted and continually reinterpreted.
“Any moment of commemoration is an opportunity both to reflect back on our shared history and look forward, considering our hopes for future generations,” said Biggs Museum curator Laura Fravel. “Our Reflections exhibition invited Community Curators to share their own unique perspectives as we celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary. The story of Delaware—and America—has always been shaped by many voices. And it is still being written.”
Reflections will remain on view throughout the anniversary year. A related book includes a Foreword by Governor Matt Meyer.

The Joy of Pastel: Maryland Pastel Society Signature Exhibition
2026-01-29 10:00 - 2027-05-10 17:00
1st Floor, Founder’s Gallery
The Joy of Pastel: Maryland Pastel Society Signature Exhibition
January 29 – May 10, 2026
The Joy of Pastel is a vibrant and refined exhibition featuring works by Signature Members of the Maryland Pastel Society, artists who have been formally recognized for achieving excellence in the use of soft pastel and the sophisticated application of design principles. Presented at the Biggs Museum of American Art, this special Signature Member Exhibition highlights the expressive range, technical mastery, and creative depth that define contemporary pastel practice in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Soft pastel is a demanding medium—requiring precision, confidence, and an intimate understanding of color, light, and surface. The 30 featured artists represented in The Joy of Pastel have demonstrated exceptional skill in navigating these challenges, producing works that range from luminous landscapes and compelling still lifes to evocative figurative and abstract compositions. Together, the exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to experience the versatility of pastel as both a drawing and painting medium, capable of remarkable subtlety as well as bold, immediate impact.
Signature Member status within the Maryland Pastel Society is a distinction earned through a rigorous review process and reflects a sustained commitment to artistic excellence. The Society itself, founded in 1977, holds a distinguished place in the history of American pastel art. It is the oldest state pastel society in the country and an active member of the International Association of Pastel Societies. While its roots are in the Baltimore region, the Society now includes more than 200 members from across the Mid-Atlantic, fostering a dynamic community of artists united by a shared dedication to the medium.
Beyond exhibitions, the Maryland Pastel Society is deeply invested in education and public engagement. Through lectures, demonstrations, workshops, and online resources, the Society supports both the creative and technical development of its members while expanding public appreciation for pastel art. The Joy of Pastel reflects this mission, presenting work that is both technically accomplished and accessible, inviting viewers to engage closely with the texture, color, and immediacy that define soft pastel.
By hosting this Signature Member Exhibition, the Biggs Museum of American Art continues its commitment to showcasing regional artistic excellence and strengthening connections between Delaware audiences and leading arts organizations throughout the Mid-Atlantic. The Joy of Pastel celebrates not only the achievements of individual artists, but also the enduring vitality of pastel as a medium and the collaborative spirit that sustains it.

The Art of Elizabeth Catlett: from the Collection of Samella Lewis
2026-02-12 10:00 - 2026-06-22 17:00
3rd Floor
The Art of Elizabeth Catlett: from the Collection of Samella Lewis
February 12 – June 22, 2026
Elizabeth Catlett (1915-2012), a sculptor and printmaker, is widely considered one of the most important African American artists of the 20th century. Her work blended art and social consciousness and confronted the most disturbing injustices against African Americans. She is best known for her work during the 1960s and 70s, when she created politically charged, black expressionistic sculptures and prints. Catlett, a sculptor and graphic artist, was born in Washington, D.C. in 1919. She attended Howard University where she studied design, printmaking and drawing. In 1940 Catlett became the first student to receive a Master’s degree in sculpture at the University of Iowa. In 1946 Catlett received a fellowship that allowed her to travel to Mexico City where she studied painting, sculpture and lithography. There, she worked with the People’s Graphic Arts Workshop, a group of printmakers dedicated to using their art to promote social change. After settling in Mexico and later becoming a Mexican citizen, she taught sculpture at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City until retiring in 1975.
The works in this exhibition come from the collection of artist, educator and author Samella Lewis, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, Art History, Scripps College, Claremont, CA. Lewis was a student of Catlett’s in the 1940’s and Catlett became her mentor. The two became lifetime friends. Samella Lewis writes: “Elizabeth Catlett was my friend and my mentor in art. She is the reason that I began to see and think creatively. When I first met Elizabeth in 1941, my attempts at making art were strictly based on visual concepts of the European models. Upon my graduation from high school, it was my good fortune to receive a scholarship to study at Dillard University where Elizabeth was the art professor.”
“Dillard did not offer a studio art major, however, with Elizabeth’s assistance I was able to obtain an art scholarship from Hampton Institute to study with Dr. Viktor Lowenfeld who at that time was regarded as the most important scholar in the field of art. While I was a student at Hampton, Elizabeth and Lowenfeld opened many art doors for me. With the passing of Lowenfeld, Elizabeth remained my friend. I shall always remember her as being my mentor who was responsible for my life in art.”
“With her recent passing, she still lives in my life and my heart as my teacher and my friend. I will always remember her and be thankful for her friendship”

Elizabeth Catlett, 1946, “Pensive”, bronze 16 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 8

© 2026 Mora-Catlett Family / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY

Elizabeth Catlett, 1990, “Dancing” lithograph, edition 34/100
© 2026 Mora-Catlett Family / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY

Elizabeth Catlett, 1983, “Survivor”, woodcut, AP 11 x 10″
© 2026 Mora-Catlett Family / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY

Elizabeth Catlett, 1965, “Sharecropper”, linocut, AP 17 3/8 x 16 1/2″
© 2026 Mora-Catlett Family / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY

Elizabeth Catlett, 1987, “These Two Generations”, lithograph
© 2026 Mora-Catlett Family / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY

Art Works For All: Celebration of Creativity
2026-02-12 10:00 - 2027-04-12 17:00
1st Floor
Art Works For All: Celebration of Creativity
February 12 – April 12, 2026
Art Works for All is a mission-driven exhibition that celebrates creativity, access, and inclusion through the visual arts. The mission of Art Works for All is to enhance the capabilities, confidence, and quality of life for children and adults with disabilities by providing meaningful educational opportunities in the arts. This exhibition reflects that mission by centering the creative voices of program participants and presenting their work with the same care, professionalism, and respect afforded to any contemporary artist.
Art Works for All designs, develops, and coordinates a visual arts exhibition that is installed within a community arts center. The exhibition showcases artwork created by program participants across a wide range of abilities and artistic approaches, emphasizing personal expression, experimentation, and creative growth. For many artists involved, this exhibition represents an important milestone: an opportunity to see their work displayed in a professional setting, to be publicly recognized as artists, and to share their perspectives with a broader audience.
The exhibition is intentionally structured to elevate participant work beyond the classroom or studio environment. Artwork is thoughtfully curated and professionally presented, reinforcing the idea that artists with disabilities are vital contributors to the cultural landscape. By situating the exhibition in a public arts venue, Art Works for All helps to reduce barriers to participation, challenge preconceived notions about disability and creativity, and expand public understanding of inclusive artistic practice.
In addition to its initial presentation, the annual exhibition continues its impact through a touring component. During the following program year, the exhibition travels to additional sites, increasing access for new audiences and extending visibility for participating artists. This approach strengthens community connections while amplifying the reach and significance of inclusive visual arts programming.
Together, the exhibition and its mission underscore the transformative power of the visual arts. Art Works for All affirms that creative expression builds confidence, fosters connection, and enriches communities, while ensuring that artists of all abilities are seen, valued, and celebrated.

Adopt-An-Artwork: Student Exhibition
2026-02-12 10:00 - 2027-05-10 17:00
1st Floor
Adopt An Artwork
February 12 – May 10, 2026
Adopt-An-Artwork: Student Exhibition is a culminating exhibition that highlights the creative and critical thinking of students from across Delaware who participated in the Biggs Museum of American Art’s Adopt-An-Artwork program during the 2025–2026 school year. This year, 1,572 students took part in the program, engaging deeply with works from the museum’s permanent collection through sustained, object-based learning experiences in their classrooms .
Adopt-An-Artwork is an educational partnership between the Biggs Museum of American Art, teachers, and students that places original works of art at the center of interdisciplinary learning. Participating educators selected one of five artworks from the museum’s collection and received large-scale reproductions, digital resources, and classroom art supplies to support instruction. Through close looking, discussion, research, and creative exploration, students examined each artwork’s historical context, materials, themes, and relevance to contemporary life.
The exhibition features selected student artworks created in response to these lessons. While the original collection objects serve as inspiration, the student work reflects a wide range of personal interpretations, media, and subject matter. Some students responded to themes of nature, environment, and place, while others explored storytelling, identity, history, material culture, or social change. Together, these works demonstrate how a single object can spark inquiry across disciplines such as visual art, history, science, language arts, and social studies.
Displayed alongside the student artwork are interpretive materials that underscore the educational process behind the program, emphasizing inquiry, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. The exhibition celebrates not only finished artworks, but also the role of teachers as curriculum designers and the importance of museums as active partners in education.
