Elmhurst University’s painting "Tree at Aledo" by Gertrude Abercrombie is currently on a national tour as part of the retrospective exhibition "Gertrude Abercrombie: The Whole World Is a Mystery." The work is presently on display at the Milwaukee Art Museum following stops at the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Colby College Museum of Art, with a final scheduled stop at the Norton Museum of Art through early 2027.
The loan of this significant work highlights the growing national recognition of both Abercrombie’s surrealist legacy and the caliber of Elmhurst University’s permanent collection. By participating in major touring retrospectives alongside institutions like the Art Institute of Chicago and the Hammer Museum, the university reinforces its role as a steward of Chicago’s art history and increases the visibility of its specialized holdings to a broader public audience.