Tucson Museum of Art Considers the American West from an Expanded Lens Including Regional Histories and Contemporary Art with Divergence of Legacy

Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block (TMA) presents Divergence of Legacy: Art of the American West in the 21st Century (February 22- June 22, 2025). This exhibition, developed with eight community curators, explores how mythic, authentic, and nuanced cultural items, experiences, and artistic practices may work in dialogue with one another and offer contemporary understandings of the Western region and Tucson. Using TMA’s collection with select loans from the Tia Collection in Santa Fe, the exhibition will offer visitors opportunities for new understandings of Art of the American West, its significance to the past and present, and a broadening of social contexts and traditional conventions. With the inclusion of works of art created between the 1870s and 2024, this exhibition positions the major theme of defiance and reimagination as a necessity for survival and method for transforming and expanding the canon of art of the American West. Throughout the galleries, visitors will also encounter a secondary themes of erasure and technology which questions ideas of progress and manifest destiny.

In 2024, the museum was awarded a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to scale its approach to community-based curation with an in-depth exploration of the museum’s Art of the American West collection including the feature exhibition, a reinstallation of the collection gallery, a publication, and public programs. The team spearheading the exhibition includes Christine Brindza, Senior Curator and Glasser Curator of Art of the American West and Marianna Pegno, Director of Engagement and Inclusion, who said of the project, “Our investigations over several years have shown there is a need to amplify stories of the region that are not seen in traditional works of art of the American West. Through working with community curators, this exhibition explores how ideas can be expanded to include imagery and stories often overlooked. These have brought attention to the way we display and collect these types of art.”

Explaining how Divergence of Legacy was developed, artist and community curator Yu Yu Shiratori reflected, “curating works from the Tucson Museum of Art’s permanent collection to define art of the American West brought forth a compelling challenge: how do we encapsulate a narrative that is as fluid and evolving as the cultural and historical forces shaping this region?”

Related programming will explore themes and artworks through a variety of formats including a curator tour, a lecture by photographer Cara Romero, a panel discussion with artists and scholars, a speakeasy and film screening, and more!

Additional programs and events related to Divergence of Legacy are available at TucsonMuseumofArt.org

Exhibition Dates:
February 22, 2025 – June 22, 2025

Lead sponsorship by

Divergence of Legacy: Art of the American West in the 21st Century is presented by Jon and Linda Ender, Dan and Kit Kimball, and the Western Art Patrons with support from Joyce Broan, the Contemporary Art Society, Jerry Freund, Nancy and Edward Landes, with additional contributions from Jeff and Anne Gartner and an anonymous donor, in recognition and in honor of the Connie Hillman Family Foundation.

The 2024/2025 Exhibition Season at TMA is presented by Louise Glasser.

Community Curator Acknowledgement
Divergence of Legacy: Art of the American West in the 21st Century has been developed through a community-based curatorial framework. We are grateful to the expertise, guidance, and trust of our community curators: Elizabeth Denneau, Dwayne Manuel, Ruben Urrea Moreno, Harrison Preston, Yu Yu Shiratori, Feng-Feng Yeh, and Alisha Vasquez and Rikki Riojas with the Mexican American Heritage and History Museum.

A special thank you to those who participated in conversations and focus groups including Maura Allen, Joan Iserman, Nancy Landes, Susan Mansfeld, PA Nisbet, Howard Post, and Connie Trecartin.

Museum Hours
Wednesday – Sunday
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

About the Henry Luce Foundation
The Henry Luce Foundation seeks to deepen knowledge and understanding in pursuit of a more democratic and just world. Established in 1936 by Henry R. Luce, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Time, Inc., the Luce Foundation advances its mission by nurturing knowledge communities and institutions, fostering dialogue across divides, enriching public discourse, amplifying diverse voices, and investing in leadership development.

A leader in arts funding since 1982, the Luce Foundation’s American Art Program advances the role of American art in realizing more vibrant and empathetic communities. Through support for innovative projects, it empowers institutions to celebrate creativity, elevate underrepresented voices, challenge accepted histories, and seek common ground.

About the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block
As an institution built upon the original territories of the O’odham, the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block (TMA) acknowledges the Indigenous Sonoran Desert communities, past and present, who have stewarded this region throughout generations.

TMA connects art to life through meaningful and engaging experiences that inspire discovery, spark creativity, and promote cultural understanding. Founded in 1924, TMA encompasses an entire city block in historic downtown Tucson and is committed to developing quality exhibitions, expanding, and diversifying its collection, providing arts education opportunities, and presenting relevant and innovative programs while broadening public access to the arts.

The museum features exhibitions of Modern and Contemporary art, Latin American art from ancient to today, Indigenous arts and Art of the American West. A permanent collection of over 10,000 works of art spans continents, centuries, and media. TMA’s campus includes five properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, an art education center and research library, the Museum Store, and the highly acclaimed museum restaurant Café a la C’Art. TMA is a private 501(c)(3) charitable arts and education organization. For additional information visit TucsonMuseumofArt.org or call (520) 624-2333.
Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block. 140 N Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701

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For general media inquiries:
Iesha Doane
Marketing and Communications Manager
520-616-2687
marketing@tucsonmuseumofart.org