09/04/2026
What can the art of the 1920s tell us about a world undergoing profound change?
Cracks & Reforms: The 1920s through the GW Collection is now on view at the Luther W. Brady Art Gallery through December 12, 2026.
The 1920s was a decade shaped by collapse and reconstruction, political upheaval and social transformation. Across the world, artists, journalists, and makers responded to changing ideas about identity, modernity, migration, and culture. A century later, this exhibition brings together a selection of works from the GW Collection to explore these global currents and the many ways people imagined themselves and their changing world.
The exhibition grew from student research led by Associate Professor Bibiana Obler. Students selected and studied works from the collection, with their research gradually revealing connections and shared themes that shaped the exhibition. The project also extends into design: Corcoran graphic design students, led by Professors Sharmila Karamchandani and Aasawari Kulkarni, designed the accompanying catalog.
Cracks & Reforms offers a cross-section of a transformative decade—and an opportunity to look at the 1920s through the questions and perspectives of students today.
On view August 26–December 12, 2026.
