Reenvisioning Histories of American Art : Transforming Museum Practice

"A harmonic chorus of essays that explore how to disrupt the centering of whiteness within the practice of curating American art."

- heather atone, Director, Curatorial Affairs, First Americans Museum

US museums have faced increasing pressure to reckon with their histories in light of movements against racism, violence, and the erosion of human rights here and abroad. Self-reflection and transformation have emerged in tandem with a focus on incorporating antiracism and decolonization in museum practice. Fundamental to these shifts is the idea that one cannot tell the story of American art without Native American, African American, Asian American, and Latinx art.

Featuring innovative scholarship and approaches from art history, anthropology, gender and sexuality studies, history, and ethnic studies, the curators and scholars in this volume write about transforming theory and methodology into museum practice as they reflect on the challenges and possibilities for expanding the canon of American art. Beyond the shortcomings of traditional curatorial approaches, they demonstrate how sustained dialogue, community engagement, and curatorial collaboration have fueled important changes to art curation. A progress report and a how-to guide, this collection considers the flawed past and inclusive future for how American art is displayed and taught.

Edited by Jami C. Powell & Michael Hartman 
University of Washington Press, 2025. Trade Paperback, 264 pages, 9 x 7.3 in