Illinois State Museum Debuts Diverse Art Exhibit ‘Here, There’

The Illinois State Museum (ISM) will open its latest exhibit, “Here, There: New Perspectives on the Collection,” on November 7 at the Lockport Gallery in Springfield.

The exhibit, featuring modern and contemporary artworks by Illinois artists, showcases the museum’s commitment to exploring untold stories and celebrating diverse perspectives, according to an Illinois State Museum press release.

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Three guest curators—Mariela Acuña, Sheridan Tucker Anderson, and Allison Lacher—were invited to delve into the museum's nearly century-old art collection and bring fresh insights to the Illinois State Museum.

A New Lens on Illinois Art and History

Doug Stapleton, the Illinois State Museum's art curator, shared that the curatorial process for “Here, There” emphasized artworks by Black, Latine, Asian, and LGBTQ+ artists.

Our groundwork for this project was to review and identify works by Black, Latine, Asian, and LGBTQ+ artists in our collection. The curators selected artworks that speak to themes of nostalgia, home, belonging, and sites of history in American art. By highlighting these diverse perspectives, ISM encourages visitors to explore the complexities within its collection and reexamine narratives about American art and life. -Doug Stapleton, ISM art curator

Interim ISM Director Jenn Edginton emphasized the depth of the museum’s collection, which spans more than 13.5 million objects.

“These collections, grown throughout our 147-year history, touch and represent all aspects of life in Illinois through natural science and culture,” Edginton explained.

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Though the exhibit showcases only a small selection, it represents the ISM’s broader mission: to share the stories of Illinois through cultural artifacts and artistic expression, according to the press release.

The Terra Foundation’s Role in Expanding Art Narratives

The “Here, There” exhibit was made possible through support from the Terra Foundation for American Art. This Chicago-based grant program supports visual art projects aiming to reshape how the story of American art is told.

Established in 1978, the foundation "fosters cross-cultural dialogues through its initiatives" and aligns with the Illinois State Museum's mission to present Illinois’s diverse stories to a wide audience, according to the press release.

Visitors can find more information about the Illinois State Museum’s programs and exhibits at illinoisstatemuseum.org.