The Delaware Art Museum (DelArt) will present "Imprinted: Illustrating Race," an exhibition assembled by the Norman Rockwell Museum and co-curated by Robyn Phillips-Pendleton of the University of Delaware. Opening October 18, 2025, the show features over 200 works originally commissioned for newspapers, magazines, books, trade cards, posters, packaging, and advertising, tracing how illustration reflected and shaped perceptions of race in the United States from the 19th century onward. It places Norman Rockwell’s Civil Rights–era images alongside works by artists such as Faith Ringgold, Emory Douglas, Howard Pyle, and Loveis Wise, highlighting both harmful racial stereotypes and efforts by 20th- and 21st-century artists, editors, and publishers to challenge those narratives.
The exhibition matters because it confronts the lasting power of visual imagery in shaping public perceptions of race, offering a critical historical perspective on representation in print and digital media. It is part of an institutional exchange with the Norman Rockwell Museum, which will host DelArt’s "Jazz Age Illustration" from November 2025 to April 2026, demonstrating a collaborative model for museums to deepen public engagement with art and community. By combining historical survey with contemporary voices, "Imprinted" invites visitors to join ongoing conversations about equity, agency, and the role of illustration in American culture.