The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., has opened a new exhibition titled 'Miró and the United States,' curated by Elsa Smithgall. The show features 75 works by Joan Miró alongside pieces by more than 30 other artists, including Alexander Calder, Rufino Tamayo, and Arshile Gorky. Rather than framing the relationship as a cultural clash between European modernism and American art, the exhibition emphasizes transatlantic artistic exchange during the mid-20th century, particularly in the shadow of World War II and the Spanish Civil War. Key works include Miró's 'Constellations' series and 'Still Life with Old Shoe' (1937), which are presented in dialogue with American contemporaries who responded to his visual language.
The exhibition matters because it reframes a pivotal period in art history—often viewed through the lens of conflict—as one of kinship and mutual influence. By highlighting how American artists like Tamayo and Gorky directly engaged with Miró's work, the show underscores the collaborative nature of modernism across borders. However, the article notes that the exhibition gives less attention to how this exchange intersected with political realities, such as Miró's life under a dictatorship in Spain and the different political contexts shaping American artists. This nuanced approach offers visitors a fresh perspective on mid-century art, emphasizing connection over opposition in a city defined by political battles.