At Lyman Allyn, Street Art Meets History in Two Summer Exhibitions

NEW LONDON, CT – The Lyman Allyn Art Museum is presenting two exhibitions this summer that connect contemporary artistic perspectives with history, culture and social commentary.

A Tin Can on a String: Conversations from the Collection remains on view through Aug. 9. The exhibition features new works by artists and longtime friends Kat Murphy and Heidi Johnson, who drew inspiration from objects in the museum’s collection and digital archives. Working in painting, collage and sculpture, the artists created contemporary responses to historical artifacts as they explored connections across time, materials and artistic traditions.

The museum said the exhibition offers visitors a look at how research and observation can be transformed into new creative work while illustrating the continued relevance of objects in the collection.

Also on view through Sept. 6 is SHEPARD FAIREY: FACING THE GIANT, Three Decades of Dissent, a retrospective of work by acclaimed street artist Shepard Fairey. The exhibition features a curated selection of 30 hand-painted multiples – prints on unique collaged backgrounds with additional stenciling and embellishments – as well as two additional Fairey prints from the Lyman Allyn’s collection. The selections span Fairey’s early imagery, inspired by punk rock and skate culture, to later works addressing social justice, environmental sustainability and political engagement.

Fairey is best known for his Obey Giant campaign and the iconic “Hope” poster created for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. The exhibition was curated by independent contemporary art curator Pedro Alonzo and organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions in association with Obey Giant Art.

The museum will host a free screening of the 2017 documentary Obey Giant on Wednesday, July 22, from 5 to 7 p.m.

For more information, visit www.lymanallyn.org.