Pondering the Mystery of Late Life

March 18-June 25, 2023

As humans, we are all aging. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? We undergo changes through time in our bodies, minds and relationships with others. These are bound up with our identities, how we understand ourselves and evaluate our lives. Depending on the period of life and circumstances, we may be excited or apprehensive. At the same time, attitudes towards aging are constantly being shaped by the culture around us, which often promotes a variety of “anti-aging” strategies. But if aging is inevitable, what might it mean to age well? This exhibition explores how looking at—and thinking with—artworks that depict aging can help us reflect on the challenges and opportunities of this stage in life, both for ourselves and those we care for.

Supporting Sponsor: Linda Black-Kurek Family Foundation
Additional Support: Carolyn Brethen

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (Japanese, 1839–1892), Gravemarker Moon, 1886, woodblock print, ink and color on paper. Museum purchase with funds provided by Jack Graef, Jr., Linda Stein, Susan Shettler, and their families in memory of Jack and Marilyn Graef, 2019.9.49.