"Public Works: Art by Elizabeth Olds" explores the under-told story of artist Elizabeth Olds (1896-1991), who worked to bring art into the daily lives of more Americans. The first woman to receive a Guggenheim Fellowship for visual arts, Olds became a vital force in the Works Progress Administration and later a celebrated children’s book author-illustrator.

As a WPA printmaker and educator, she captured the essence of Depression-era America, and through her dedication to experimentation, she championed the accessibility of silkscreen printing and value of fine art as an impactful education tool. This exhibition represents the first critically engaged exploration of Olds’s extensive body of work, showcasing more than 100 prints, paintings, drawings, and illustrations from the 1920s to the 1960s.

The exhibition examines Olds’s artistic legacy - from her poignant portrayals of labor conditions in American industry, to her satirical social commentary, to her engaging children’s books - and underscores the enduring significance of art in everyday life.

Following the opening reception, the exhibit will be on display until July 14.