All the World’s a Stage

All the World’s a Stage (Gallery 117)

Across cultures, the performing arts—drama, dance, music—have entertained and educated, bringing people together in communal spaces to celebrate and question what it means to be human. Along the way, visual arts have depicted performers and performances, commemorating and giving semi-permanent form to temporal acts, from records of sacred rituals to portraits of leading actors.

At the same time, performance extends beyond the stage to the world, becoming a metaphor for our lives and how we interact with others. As we form our individual identities, we play a variety of roles in a range of social settings at different points in life, all while we serve as the audience of others. Drawing together a range of artworks from the DAI collection, this exhibition shines a spotlight on performers across the ages and how they, in turn, may shape the ways we act. 

Plan your visit to see these and other incredible works.

Links & Tags

Dayton Art Institute

All the World’s a Stage is taking place at Dayton Art Institute, which is located at 456 Belmonte Park North in Dayton. Dayton Art Institute - Committed to enriching the community by creating meaningful experiences with art that are available to all. Visit us often to enjoy our diverse collections, world class exhibits and more.