The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston celebrated its 250th birthday on June 19 with the unveiling of the new exhibition Art of the Americas: 1700–1800. This exhibition showcases over 400 objects from across the Americas, highlighting both historical and contemporary works. It marks the first reinstallation in the museum's ground-level galleries of the Art of the Americas Wing.
Exhibition Highlights and Themes
The exhibition is divided into eight themed sections, each designed to tell broader narratives about the Americas. Featured items include a Native American shrine from 2025, 18th-century needlework samples, and casta paintings from colonial Mexico. Curator Erica Hirshler emphasized that the goal is to reflect the interconnectedness of cultures across the Americas.
One of the standout sections is titled Power and Resistance, which juxtaposes works by Native artists with those influenced by British colonialism. Notable pieces include Paul Revere's
