For and Against Modern Art: The Armory Show + 100

The 1913 International Exhibition of Modern Art, referred to now as simply the Armory Show, was the first major exhibition of modern art in the United States. Alongside traditional realistic art, the styles of the European avant-garde shocked many American viewers and inspired American artists. Many of the works that were controversial a century ago seem unremarkable now, but the intensity-and polarity-of the critical reception had deep ramifications in the art world. While some people reveled in the new expression, many were vociferously opposed to external ideas and offended by unfamiliar imagery. This exhibition focuses on the work and artists featured in the Armory Show-with special emphasis on the Chicago venue.

Organized by the DePaul Art Museum, Chicago, with support from the Terra Foundation for American Art.