Dayton Art Institute Announces its 2025 Exhibition Lineup

Friday, January 03, 2025

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MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Erin Wood, Marketing Communications Manager
937-271-1341 (cell) | ewood@daytonart.org

 
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The 2025 Special Exhibition lineup includes the notable work of a distinguished figure in contemporary art, the celebration of an iconic fixture in the Dayton Art scene and a major traveling exhibition exploring the elegant designs and nature-based motifs of Art Nouveau.

(DAYTON, OHIO) – January 3, 2025 – The Dayton Art Institute (DAI) is excited to announce an impressive lineup of exhibitions for 2025, highlighted by three Special Exhibitions: Jamie Wyeth: Unsettled; Curtis Barnes, Sr., Dayton Icon and The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art, and eight diverse Focus Exhibitions. 

“The Dayton Art Institute is committed to providing inspiring and significant exhibitions to our community, and 2025 will be no exception,” said DAI Director & President Michael R. Roediger. “Our Curatorial Team has put together an exciting exhibition lineup, bringing major traveling exhibitions to the Dayton area and several DAI-exclusive offerings, all showcasing the work of numerous iconic artists and a wide variety of themes.” 

THE 2025 SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS
The 2025 Special Exhibition schedule kicks off in March with Jamie Wyeth: Unsettled, on view March 15–June 8, 2025. Jamie Wyeth, a distinguished figure in contemporary art, is widely recognized for his independent, realistic approach. Unsettled follows Wyeth’s entire career and looks at a specifically darker thread within his oeuvre of troubling and unnerving imagery, frequently countered and even hidden by the artist’s fuller body of work—particularly his wellknown coastal views and farmscapes. The exhibition is divided into three distinct sections: “Strangers and Specters;” “Natural and Supernatural Worlds;” and “Haunted Places and Disturbing Spaces.” Drawn from museums and private collections from across the country, the DAI is the exclusive Ohio venue and the final stop for this major traveling exhibition organized by the Brandywine Museum of Art. 

A DAI-exclusive exhibition will showcase the work of Curtis Barnes, Sr., a painter and educator who was a longtime fixture in Dayton’s art scene. His bold, colorful and experimental paintings are a distinctive blend of naturalism with abstraction. He frequently pictured the people in his life and made powerful self-portraits. His influence is found today in his students, many still working in the Dayton area, as well as his 1992 co-founding (with artist Willis “Bing” Davis) of the African American Visual Artists Guild. Barnes was presented the Paul Laurence Dunbar Humanitarian Award in 1994 and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Arts Council in 2008 for his contributions. Presented during the 90th anniversary of Barnes’ birth year, this exhibition is a celebration of his life and art drawn from the collections of his family and friends, organized by the Dayton Art Institute. Curtis Barnes, Sr., Dayton Icon is on view July 12–September 14, 2025.

Closing out the 2025 exhibition season is The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art, on view October 18, 2025–January 11, 2026. The Triumph of Nature presents the refined, ever-popular and elegant curvilinear designs and nature-based motifs of Art Nouveau. More than 120 turn-of-the-20th century treasures are included, with works by Tiffany, Mucha, Gallé, Beardsley and many others. Diverse mediums, including furniture, paintings, sculpture, mosaics, books, posters, prints, lamps, glass art and more highlight the innovative ways artists made harmonious visual arrangements. The DAI is the exclusive Ohio venue for this major traveling exhibition. The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art is organized by the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA and toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC. 

THE 2025 FOCUS EXHIBITIONS
In addition to the Special Exhibitions, the museum will present several Focus Exhibitions based around various themes. The 2025 Focus Exhibition season will kick off with an exciting presentation of work by some of the most prominent artists working in the 20th century, including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, James Rosenquist, Lee Bontecou and Edward Ruscha in the Focus Exhibition A Taste for Pop: Gifts from S. Bradley Gillaugh on view January 25–May 25, 2025. The exhibition highlights gifts from a single donor, Dayton native Stephen Bradley “Brad” Gillaugh. Featuring a collection of contemporary styles, particularly pop art, the exhibition showcases artists Gillaugh worked with during his career as an exhibition coordinator and consultant in New York and California. 

Other Scheduled Focus Exhibitions include:

  • Kind of Funny, on view February 8–May 4, 2025
  • Cats in Art / Dogs in Art, on view June 18–September 14, 2025
  • Wonders in Color: Art by Alexander Calder & Others, on view June 18–October 26, 2025
  • Strange Worlds: Photographs by Jay Hoops, on view October 4, 2025–January 4, 2026
  • Engaged: Rings from around the World, on view November 8, 2025–April 19, 2026
  • Dayton Printmakers Cooperative: Dayton/Kyoto Invitational, on view December 6, 2025–February 22, 2026
  • Themes in Yoshitoshi’s 100 Aspects of the Moon:
    • Heroism & Loyalty, on view April 12–July 13, 2025
    • Mystery & Magic, on view July 19–October 19, 2025
    • Love & Longing, on view October 25, 2025–January 25, 2026

For more information and updates about both Special and Focus Exhibitions at the DAI, go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/exhibitions.

“2025 promises to be an unforgettable year at the DAI,” said DAI Head Curator & Curatorial Affairs Director Jerry N. Smith. “These exhibitions offer every member of the community an opportunity to view a diverse lineup of art highlighting a variety of styles and media. There will be plenty to see and enjoy throughout the year, and we look forward to creating meaningful experiences with each guest.”

Admission to the DAI includes access to all Special and Focus Exhibitions currently on view, as well as the museum collection galleries. General admission is $15 adults; $10 seniors (60+), active military and groups (10 or more); $5 students (18+ w/ID) and youth (ages 7–17); and free for children (ages 6 & younger). Admission is free for museum members. Membership information can be found online at www.daytonartinstitute.org/membership.

For more information about planning a visit, including current museum hours and updates, go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/visit or call 937-223-4ART (4278). Connect with the Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest for additional information, behindthe-scenes photos and videos and exclusive offers. 

ABOUT DAYTON ART INSTITUTE
MISSION: Through art, we create transformative and diverse experiences, strengthen community connections and inspire imagination.

VISION: Through art, we will be a community leader recognized as a welcoming, thought-provoking and collaborative place that nurtures inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility.

The Dayton Art Institute (DAI) is the Miami Valley’s premier fine art museum, offering a full range of programming in addition to exhibiting its collection. The museum is currently open Wednesdays, 11 AM–5 PM; Thursdays, 11 AM–8 PM; Fridays & Saturdays, 11 AM–5 PM; and Sundays, noon–5 PM. Go to www.daytonartinstitute.org/visit for the latest museum information and updates. Museum admission is $15 adults, $10 seniors (60+), active military and groups (10 or more), $5 students (18+ w/ID) and youth (ages 7–17), free for children (ages 6 & younger) and free for museum members. Admission includes access to all Special Exhibitions, Focus Exhibitions, The Lange Family Experiencenter and the museum’s collection galleries. Some events and programs may carry an additional charge and include museum admission as part of that price. Free parking is available at the museum, and the facility is fully accessible. The DAI’s Museum Store and Leo are open during regular museum hours, offering unique shopping, as well as drinks and tasty treats. The Museum Store also offers online shopping at www.daimuseumstore.org. For more information about the DAI, visit daytonartinstitute.org or call 937-223-4ART (4278). The Ohio Arts Council helps fund this organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The DAI also receives support from Culture Works and the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District.

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