The Joslyn Memorial (now Joslyn Art Museum) opened to the public on
November 29, 1931. An extraordinary Art Deco building featuring a
concert hall surrounded by art galleries, the Memorial was Sarah
Joslyn’s gift to the people of Omaha in memory of her late husband
George, founder of the Western Newspaper Union. Sarah imagined a space
where all could gather, free of charge, to experience the arts. When
crowds filled the building on opening day, she remarked, “if there is
any good in it, let it go on and on.”
On the occasion of our ninetieth anniversary, we reflect upon
Sarah’s vision and the impact of the Museum’s art, architecture,
exhibitions, and programming. Featuring a graphic timeline, highlights
from across the permanent collection, and architectural renderings, Ninety Years of Joslyn Art Museum
brings to life the remarkable stories of the formation and evolution of
the Museum. This special installation recounts the culture of art
appreciation in Omaha in the late-nineteenth century, traces the
development of the permanent collection through gifts and purchases in
the twentieth century, and looks forward to the opportunities for
reenvisioning the Museum in the twenty-first century.
Ninety Years of Joslyn Art Museum also honors those who
have been part of fulfilling the Museum’s commitment to making art
accessible to all: donors, members, and community leaders who have
supported us, artists whose creativity inspires us, generations of board
members who have provided leadership, countless volunteers and docents
who have given their time and talent, dedicated staff who work to
advance the Museum’s mission, and of course our visitors who gather here
to celebrate art.
This exhibition is included in free general Museum admission.
Above: Jackson Pollock (American, 1912–1956), Galaxy, 1947, oil and aluminum paint on canvas, 43½ x 34 in., Gift of Miss Peggy Guggenheim, 1949.164