Drawing as Discovery: 500 Years of Drawings and Watercolors from the Permanent Collection

Drawing as Discovery: 500 Years of Drawings and Watercolors from MAG’s Permanent Collection showcases over 100 stellar works selected from the museum’s holdings of over 2,000 drawings. Organized by artistic intent, the exhibition unites work across a breadth of cultures and time periods by the common principle that the very act of drawing is at the heart of artistic creativity. Significant work by well-known artists such as Lesley Dill, Edgar Degas, Georgia O’Keeffe, Francisco Goya, Rembrandt van Rijn, and Kara Walker is displayed alongside drawings by lesser-known or unknown artists whose works are of equally striking quality.

Drawing as Discovery embodies MAG’s vision: As the center of the conversation on creativity, MAG builds community and enriches the way we see ourselves and the world around us. The exhibition explores diverse drawings through the lens of artistic discovery rather than through academic categories, increasing accessibility to the delight and inspiration that comes from looking at exceptional works of art. Work in a wide range of media and from diverse cultures demonstrates the richness of strategies artists use to explore line and tone, capture the nuances of the human condition, and render three-dimensional space. Visitors of all ages and abilities will make connections among the thematically grouped works and through associated programming and activities.