Interior Lives: Modern American Spaces, 1890–1945

February 17 – May 12, 2024

Interior Lives engages notions of how our spaces affect us from both material and psychological perspectives. Presenting works by William Merritt Chase, Hilda Belcher, Luigi Lucioni, Theresa Pollak, and many others, the exhibition investigates domesticity, class, labor, and the complexities of modern life. 

The time frame explored in this exhibition — the end of the Gilded Age through World War II — was pivotal in the formation of 20^th-century American identities. Transformative technological and social shifts such as the widespread use of the telephone, the rise of department stores, and the building of subway systems deeply impacted everyday life. The ascent of industrial manufacturing brought with it a new Modernist aesthetic in American art and design. Through piercing portraits and unpeopled interiors, as well as photographs and objects of material culture, this exhibition shows us how our interactions with the everyday objects in our lives can reveal insights into the world around us.

Interior Lives: Modern American Spaces, 1890– 1945 is organized by the Columbia Museum of Art.

^{Image above:
Luigi Lucioni 
American (born Italy), 1900–1988
By the Windowsill, 1932
Oil on canvas
Gift of Betty Watson
CMA 2012.4}  

With additional support from The Nord Family Foundation