Made in USA: Prints for the American Revolution Bicentennial

Hawks Pavilion
Works on Paper Gallery

In the lead up to 200th anniversary of national independence, a Bicentennial buzz pervaded the nation, inspiring exhibitions, parades, and historical preservation initiatives, as well as television programs and commemorative souvenirs. In the arts, the American Revolution Bicentennial of 1976 arrived in a newfound era of corporate patronage, as companies embraced cultural philanthropy. In addition to sponsoring exhibitions of American art, companies like Lorillard Tobacco and Mobile Oil commissioned limited edition print portfolios, inviting prominent contemporary artists within and beyond the United States to respond to the Bicentennial occasion.

Made in USA presents a selection of such prints from The Joslyn’s collection, demonstrating how artists engaged with the spotlight on national history. In the works on view, artists reference and reimagine familiar icons and events, drawing attention to how history is constructed, communicated, and consumed.

Image: Ed Ruscha (American, b. 1937), America Her Best Product, 1974, from the portfolio Kent Bicentennial Portfolio: Spirit of Independence, 1975, lithograph, sheet size: 31 3/8 × 23 1/2 in (79.7 × 59.7 cm), Gift of Lorillard, a Division of Lowes Theatres, Inc., 1975.95, © Ed Ruscha