Alyce Mahon's new book, *Dorothea Tanning: A Surrealist World*, explores how the 1936 MoMA exhibition *Fantastic Art, Dada, Surrealism* profoundly transformed the young artist Dorothea Tanning, who described being "rocked on my run-over heels" by the experience. The article also recounts similar life-changing exhibition encounters for contemporary artists Lorna Simpson and Hurvin Anderson, as discussed on *The Week in Art* and *A brush with…* podcasts, highlighting how specific shows shaped their artistic trajectories.
This matters because it underscores the enduring power of exhibitions to catalyze artistic breakthroughs and shift cultural perspectives. By tracing these personal revelations—from Tanning's surrealist awakening to Anderson's encounter with *The Other Story*—the article argues that exhibitions are not merely displays but transformative events that can redefine an artist's practice and identity, especially for marginalized voices. It reframes art history as a series of such pivotal moments, emphasizing the curatorial role in shaping creative futures.