Wharton Esherick and the Birth of the American Modern, in collaboration with the Wharton Esherick Museum, occupies two venues on Penn’s campus—the Kamin Gallery in the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library and the Kroiz Gallery in the Architectural Archives. The exhibition—the first major examination of Esherick’s work and artistic development in over 50 years—explores his artistic evolution during the early decades of the twentieth century. The Kamin Gallery explores the context in which his art emerged and evolved, while the Kroiz Gallery explores his evolution as an artist.

Wharton Harris Esherick (1887-1970) was a Philadelphia-born artist whose distinctive synthesis of art, theater, dance and design forged an early and compelling example of American Modernism. Trained as an illustrator and painter, well exposed to new ideas in philosophy, politics, and literature, he experimented with woodcarving and printmaking. He produced paintings and woodblock prints, set designs, furniture and architecture. His work for the writer Theodore Dreiser included a walking stick and table, both of which are on display. Esherick was known as the “dean of American craftsmen.”

On November 6 and December 4 there will be special tours of the exhibition by guest curators beginning in the Kamin Gallery, from 10:30 a.m. until noon. There will be other special tours and other events next January and February before the exhibition closes on February 13.