The BIGGS Museum

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”

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.
