Lancaster, PA – The Demuth Museum is pleased to announce its exhibition, Charles Demuth: Definitively Modern on view from June 2 through September 2, 2018. The exhibition and accompanying catalog focus on the Demuth Museum’s collection of original art by Charles Demuth.  The collection is now the largest in the world with 52 works of art as well as it is the largest repository of original archival material on the artist. The exhibit will feature highlights from the collection, not every work will be on display.  Anne M. Lampe noted, “This is an exciting moment in the history of the museum. Thirteen years ago the Collections Committee and I set a goal for the growing the collection and we have achieved it.  That goal was to have the largest collection of his work in his hometown, which contains examples from every stage of his career.” In order to achieve this goal in the last thirteen years the museum has acquired or been given 22 artworks.  Lampe notes, “we’ve turned some gifts down along the way because we had too many of that stage of his career and we raised money to purchase other essential works.  The Lancaster Community has been very generous in its support of this goal and should be proud that Lancaster’s most famous artist is so well represented here.”

Demuth played a vital role in the American modernist art scene both abroad and at home while surrounded by the who’s who of the expatriate art scene and close friends including, Leo and Gertrude Stein, Marsden Hartley, Eugene O’Neill, and Marcel Duchamp. Demuth soaked up the experience and dynamism that was life as an artist in the early 20th century and brought it home to his studio on East King Street in Lancaster, where his primary subject matter was the city of Lancaster and his mother’s flower garden. Lampe noted, “This exhibit also coincides with our Annual Garden Tour and examples of his portrayals of his mother’s garden will be represented.  Garden Tour weekend is a great way for people to learn about Charles, his artwork and celebrate this wonderful city that Charles held so dearly to his heart. The fact that Lancaster City was his subject matter and his art work was held in such high regard nationally and internationally is remarkable.”

Accompanying this exhibition is a major catalogue, Charles Demuth: The Demuth Museum Collection by Anne M. Lampe published by the Demuth Museum, 176 pages. $29.95