From May 13 to June 20, 2026, Lippitt House Museum in Providence, Rhode Island, will host an exhibition titled "On Being American: Contemporary Artworks, Echoes of the Past." The show features new works by five local contemporary artists—Susan Hardy, Steven Easton, Amalia Galdona Broche, Lynne Harlow, and McDonald Wright—who draw on the museum's architecture, period, and stories to explore themes of American identity. A special opening reception and artist talk will take place on May 13, with additional open house hours throughout the run.
This exhibition matters because it uses a historic house museum as a living canvas, connecting contemporary artistic practice with local history and architecture. By inviting artists to respond directly to the site, the show fosters a dialogue between past and present, encouraging visitors to reflect on what it means to be American today. The pay-what-you-can admission model also makes the arts accessible to a broader community, reinforcing the museum's role as an inclusive cultural space.