An Expanding Vision: Six Decades of Works on Paper 

A black-and-white stylized drawing of six Black men behind a barbed wire fence and a Black woman in front of them gesturing toward the viewer.
April 22–August 22, 2021
Mezzanine

In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Carter, An Expanding Vision: Six Decades of Works on Paper at the Carter revisits key moments in the Carter’s history of collecting works on paper, highlighting the museum’s path to becoming one of the finest collections of American art in the country. A selection of former Carter curators and directors worked with current staff to create the exhibition, contributing reflections on the importance of each artwork at the time that it entered the collection.

The Carter’s holdings include over 8,000 works on paper spanning the 18th to the 21st centuries. From artist sketches to detailed lithographs, works on paper are historically valuable art objects, often revealing how artists developed their signature styles or offering unique insights into societal trends. Bringing together an eclectic mix of styles and time periods, An Expanding Vision illustrates how the works on paper collection has helped the Carter tell a more expansive and inclusive story of American art.

Explore the work in An Expanding Vision from the comfort of your home with our new virtual exhibition tour!

Installation Photos

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An Expanding Vision: Six Decades of Works on Paper is supported in part by the William E. Scott Foundation.