Exploring Innovation, Collaboration, and Mentorship in American Art
The Delaware Art Museum is proud to present three exhibitions celebrating the innovation and breadth of artists working across media and time period. Drawn entirely from the Museum’s extensive collection, “Marisol to Warhol: Printmaking and Creative Collaboration,” “Inked Impressions: Etchings in the Age of Whistler,” and “John Sloan and His Students” explore the evolution of printmaking, the power of artistic experimentation, and the influence of mentorship in art.
“These exhibitions highlight the richness of the DelArt’s collection and the many ways artists have explored, adapted, and innovated through different artistic techniques,” said Margaret Winslow, Head Curator and Curator of Contemporary Art. “We invite visitors to discover compelling stories of printmakers, experimenters, and educators who have shaped art over the last two centuries.”
Admission to these exhibitions is included with Museum admission. Each exhibition will also be accompanied by a series of related programs.
“Marisol to Warhol: Printmaking and Creative Collaboration”
On view through September 7, 2025
“Marisol to Warhol: Printmaking and Creative Collaboration” highlights some of the most influential American artists of the second half of the 20th century, including Andy Warhol, Marisol Escobar, Jacob Lawrence, Lowell Nesbitt, Luis Cruz Azaceta, and Salvador Dalí. The exhibition showcases the collaborative nature of printmaking and the ways artists experimented across media.
A special loan from Art Bridges—William T. Williams’s 1970 painting Walter’s Advice—joins the exhibition, displayed alongside a newly acquired print portfolio by Williams to illustrate the artist’s exploration across media. To further celebrate artistic collaboration, the Museum commissioned three local artists—Oscar Eduardo de Paz, Cony Madariaga, and Alim Smith—to create prints inspired by the missions of three Wilmington organizations: Kuumba Academy, the Latin American Community Center, and Route 9 Library & Innovation Center. Their works, featured in “Painters Print,” will be on view in the Museum’s Orientation Hallway and at community locations throughout Wilmington.
“Inked Impressions: Etchings in the Age of Whistler”
On view through July 27, 2025
Come closer and explore the artistry of etching. “Inked Impressions: Etchings in the Age of Whistler” traces the etching revival that began in France and expanded to Britain and the United States in the second half of the 19th century. Featuring pioneering artist-etchers such as James McNeill Whistler and those who inspired him—including Rembrandt van Rijn—this exhibition showcases technical mastery and experimentation in intaglio printmaking.
The intimate exhibition highlights various etching techniques, including drypoint and combined printmaking methods, across three key areas: portraits, landscapes, and genre scenes. Unique displays include a video demonstrating the etching process, a local story featuring etcher Joseph Pennell, a striking self-portrait by Rembrandt, and historical etching manuals from the Museum’s Helen Farr Sloan Library.
“John Sloan and His Students”
On view April 19, 2025-August 24, 2025
A celebrated painter and printmaker, John Sloan was also a dedicated teacher who mentored generations of artists. “John Sloan and His Students” showcases works by Sloan alongside those of his pupils, illustrating his profound influence on American art. Sloan joined the Art Students League as an instructor in 1916, and over the course of two decades, he taught hundreds of artists there. This exhibition includes characteristic prints and drawings by Peggy Bacon, Isabel Bishop, Don Freeman, and Reginald Marsh, who followed in Slan’s footsteps, depicting the vibrant city life around them. Others preferred landscapes, still life, or abstraction. Still others built careers as cartoonists, photographers, designers, and dancers. Additional featured artists include Alexander Calder, Don Freeman, Adolph Gottlieb, Doris Rosenthal, and Otto Soglow.
“John Sloan and His Students” features paintings, drawings, and prints from the collection of the Delaware Art Museum—including works that were in Sloan’s personal collection—as well as photographs, rare publications, and archival materials from the John Sloan Manuscript Collection. Encompassing works made between the 1920s and the 1970s, the exhibition provides a broad view of modern American art, bringing together the work of famous artists and fascinating figures whose careers deserve greater attention. The breadth and accomplishments of Sloan’s pupils inspired “John Sloan and His Students,” an exhibition which honors the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Art Students League.
Sponsors: “Marisol to Warhol: Printmaking and Creative Collaboration” is made possible through support from the Henry Luce Foundation, Art Bridges, and the Johannes R. and Betty P. Krahmer American Art Exhibition Fund. “Inked Impressions: Etchings in the Age of Whistler” is made possible through the support of the Dr. Lee MacCormick Edwards Charitable Foundation and through the generosity of Sewell C. Biggs and foundations including the Choptank Foundation. “John Sloan and His Students” is made possible through support from the Hallie Tybout Exhibit Fund. “Painters Print” is made possible through support from Art Bridges. These exhibitions are supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.
About the Delaware Art Museum
For over 100 years, the Museum has served as a primary arts and cultural institution in Delaware. It is alive with experiences, discoveries, and activities to connect people with art and with each other. Originally created in 1912 to honor the renowned illustrator and Wilmington-native, Howard Pyle, the Museum’s collection has grown to over 12,000 works of art in our building and sculpture garden. Also recognized for British Pre-Raphaelite art, the Museum is home to the most comprehensive Pre-Raphaelite collection on display outside of the United Kingdom, and a growing collection of significant contemporary art.
Under the leadership of our Board of Trustees, the Delaware Art Museum is implementing a comprehensive approach to community and civic engagement. This exciting new strategic direction requires that we increase our value and relevance to all audiences. Visit delart.org to for the latest exhibitions, programs, and performances or connect with us via social media.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: “Marisol to Warhol: Printmaking and Creative Collaboration” Exhibition
WHEN: Through September 7, 2025
WHERE: Delaware Art Museum, 2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19806
COST: Included in Museum admission
INFO: https://delart.org/event/marisol-to-warhol/
WHAT: “Inked Impressions: Etchings in the Age of Whistler” Exhibition
WHEN: Through July 27, 2025
WHERE: Delaware Art Museum, 2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19806
COST: Included in Museum admission
INFO: https://delart.org/event/inked-impressions/
WHAT: “John Sloan and His Students” Exhibition
WHEN: Apr 19, 2025 – Aug 24, 2025
WHERE: Delaware Art Museum, 2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19806
COST: Included in Museum admission
INFO: https://delart.org/event/john-sloan-and-his-students/
WHAT: “Painters Print” Exhibition
WHEN: Through September 7, 2025
WHERE: Delaware Art Museum, 2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19806
COST: Included in Museum admission
INFO: https://delart.org/event/painters-print/