About
Drawn from the rich holdings of the Reading Public Museum’s permanent collection of American Art, Faces of America brings together more than two centuries of American figurative painting. From early likenesses of statesmen and community leaders, to images of artists, laborers, families, immigrants, activists, and everyday citizens, these works reveal how portraits help record, and in some instances shape, the evolving story of the United States.
Painted, printed, sculpted, and photographed across diverse regions and eras, the portraits on view reflect a wide spectrum of identities and experiences. Artists such as Gilbert Stuart, Eastman Johnson, Cecilia Beaux, William Glackens, John Sloan, Norman Rockwell, Dorothea Lange, March Avery, and many others portray individuals who differ in background, culture, age, and circumstance, yet who share a common role in the unfolding American narrative. Together, these “faces” illuminate how ideas of belonging, representation, and visibility have shifted over time.
This exhibition invites visitors to look closely at the people who have shaped the nation over the past two-and-a-half-centuries. Each work offers more than a likeness; it is a window into history, character, and memory, reminding us that the story of the United States is written through the lives and achievements of its people.
Debuting in 2028
For more information contact Kim Jovinelli.
