Masterpieces of American Modernism from the Vilcek Collection of American Art opens this week in Corpus Christi, at the Art Museum of South Texas. Assembled by the Vilcek Foundation’s curator, Emily Schuchardt Navratil, the exhibition features 50 works drawn from the American Modernism Collection.

The exhibition will highlight, in particular, Oscar Bluemner’s Sonnet SeriesTorn Signs group; Morgan Russell and Stanton Macdonald-Wright’s Synchromism works; and two strong themes in the collection, the City and the Southwest.

“Torn Signs,” by Ralston Crawford, 1974-1976. (C) Estate of Ralston Crawford/VAGA, New York.

The collection is also tied to a personal aspect to the immigration journeys of our founders, Jan and Marica Vilcek. As refugees from the former communist Czechoslovakia, they were drawn to depictions of their new home, New York City, and thus images of the city comprise an important component to the American Modernism collection. The collection features a high percentage of foreign-born artists—8 out of 20 artists included were born outside of the United States—further demonstrating immigration’s impact on American culture.

“View from Brooklyn,” by George Ault, 1927.

Masterpieces of American Modernism will be on view from now until January 6, 2019. Visit AMST’s website for more information!