STAMFORD — In celebration of its 90th anniversary, the Stamford Museum & Nature Center presents “Likeness & Legacy: Portraits from the Permanent Collection,” a special exhibition showcasing standout paintings, prints, drawings and sculptures spanning more than 70 years of collecting.
It will be on view daily through May 25 in the Museum’s Bendel Mansion Galleries.
Drawn entirely from the museum’s vast permanent collection, many of the works on view were donated by Stamford residents over time. Together, these portraits illuminate the individuals and stories that have shaped both the region.
Exhibition highlights include a striking portrait by John Singer Sargent with a complex history, having been confiscated by the Nazis during World War II. Sculptural studies of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt by Gutzon Borglum — best known for his work on Mount Rushmore — underscore the exhibition’s historical significance. Notably, Borglum’s bust of Lincoln was regarded by the president’s son as the closest likeness ever created.
The exhibition also features a bold, expressive portrait by Soshana of her friend, sculptor Alberto Giacometti, alongside more intimate works such as the poignant likeness of four-year-old Maud E. Smith. Several works have undergone recent conservation and are now on view for the first time in decades.
“For 90 years, The Stamford Museum & Nature Center has been a place where the community sees itself reflected,” said Bill Brucker, executive director of the Center. “This exhibition honors not only the depth of our collection, but the generations of supporters, artists and visitors who have shaped us into the cultural cornerstone we are today.”
Roanne Wilcox, the Center’s curator of collections and exhibitions, pointed out the uniqueness of the exhibition.
“Portraiture has a unique ability to connect us across time,” Wilcox said. “What makes Likeness & Legacy especially powerful is its range — from small-scale works to commanding sculptures — and the diversity of stories each piece holds. These works invite us to consider not just how people looked, but how they wished to be seen and remembered.”
Also on view in the Arcade Gallery is “What’s it like for you to be an American? The Photography of Robert Kalman,” an intimate exhibition exploring contemporary identity through portrait photography. Presented in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the exhibition features portraits paired with handwritten reflections.
To learn more, visit stamfordmuseum.org/legacy.
