Armory Show

For the ongoing annual exhibit, see The Armory Show (art fair).

1913 Armory Show
Armory Show button, 1913
Armory show button, 1913
DateFebruary 17, 1913 (1913-02-17) to March 15, 1913 (1913-03-15)
Location69th Regiment Armory, New York, NY
Also known asThe International Exhibition of Modern Art
ParticipantsArtists in the Armory Show
Armory Show poster

The 1913 Armory Show, also known as the International Exhibition of Modern Art, was organized by the Association of American Painters and Sculptors. It was the first large exhibition of modern art in America, as well as one of the many exhibitions that have been held in the vast spaces of U.S. National Guard armories.

The three-city exhibition started in New York City's 69th Regiment Armory, on Lexington Avenue between 25th and 26th Streets, from February 17 until March 15, 1913.[1] The exhibition went on to the Art Institute of Chicago and then to The Copley Society of Art in Boston,[2] where, due to a lack of space, all the work by American artists was removed.[3]

The show became an important event in the history of American art, introducing Americans, who were accustomed to realistic art, to the experimental styles of the European avant garde, including Fauvism and Cubism. The show served as a catalyst for American artists, who became more independent and created their own "artistic language."

"The origins of the show lie in the emergence of progressive groups and independent exhibitions in the early 20th century (with significant French precedents), which challenged the aesthetic ideals, exclusionary policies, and authority of the National Academy of Design, while expanding exhibition and sales opportunities, enhancing public knowledge, and enlarging audiences for contemporary art."[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cotter was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ International Exhibition of Modern Art, catalogue cover, Copley Society of Boston, Copley Hall, Boston, Mass., 1913
  3. ^ Brown, Milton W. The Story of the Armory Show, Joseph H. Hirshhorn Foundation, New York, 1963, pp. 185–186
  4. ^ Berman, Avis (2000). As National as the National Biscuit Company; The Academy, the Critics, and the Armory Show, Rave Reviews American Art and Its Critics, 1826–1925. New York: National Academy of Design. p. 131.