The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut, will launch its inaugural Aldrich Decennial exhibition, titled “I am what is around me,” on a 10-year cycle. The show emerged from over 100 studio visits by chief curator Amy Smith-Stewart and curatorial and publications manager Caitlin Monachino, and aims to survey contemporary art in Connecticut. Aldrich director Cybele Maylone discussed the exhibition’s framework, noting that a decennial cycle suits the region’s stable population and allows for deeper examination of the local cultural community.
This decennial matters because it offers a rare, place-based survey model that contrasts with the biennial and triennial formats common in larger cities. The Aldrich, known for championing avant-garde and emerging artists, uses the exhibition to reinforce its mission of intimate, risk-taking engagement with contemporary art. The initiative also reflects the museum’s growth under Maylone, including expanded board membership, doubled membership, and a renovated Sculpture Garden, demonstrating how smaller institutions can maintain relevance and community impact.