40 Years of Collecting

March 13 – December 22, 2024

An anniversary exhibition celebrating 40 years of the Cahoon Museum of American Art’s permanent collection

The Cahoon Museum of American Art celebrates the 40th anniversary of its permanent collection, which started with the founding of the museum in 1984. Artwork in this special exhibition spans from early American paintings to mixed media pieces created by leading artists of our time. Join us to explore our museum’s remarkable visual arts resource.

The 40th anniversary is a major milestone for the Cahoon Museum and is a moment of reflection and charting new directions. 40 Years of Collecting features key pieces in the Cahoon Museum’s collection which illuminate the unique artistic culture of Cape Cod and highlight the Cahoon Museum’s commitment to collecting the art of living artists. Themes include the role of the sea in American art, Cape Cod towns and landscapes, folk art portraits, and contemporary local and regional art.

40 Years of Collecting also celebrates the donors and artists whose generous gifts have made it possible for the Cahoon Museum to grow its collection for the benefit of the Cape Cod community and beyond. Choosing the Cahoon Museum as a home for great works of art ensures that the museum can continue to serve as a dynamic center for the study, appreciation, and enjoyment of art.

The Cahoon Museum of American Art’s collection represents nearly every medium, including paintings, three-dimensional art, works on paper, and furniture dating from the 18th century to the present.

Pictured Left:
Daisy Marguerite Hughes (1882-1968)
Cape Cod Dunes, n.d.
Oil on canvas
Collection of the Cahoon Museum of American Art
Gift of the Cahoon Society, 2013
2013.2

Pictured Above:
Robert Cardinal (b. 1936)
Three Boats, 2016
Oil on canvas
Collection of the Cahoon Museum of American Art
Gift of the Cahoon Society, 2016
2016.05