The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut, has opened a new exhibition titled "I am what is around me," the first in its Aldrich Decennial series. The show features works by 40 Connecticut artists, all of whom have never had solo exhibitions in the state before. Executive Director Cybele Maylone describes it as the largest show the museum has ever presented, encompassing photography, sculpture, and painting. The exhibition was conceived by Chief Curator Amy Smith-Stuart and organized with Assistant Curator Caitlin Monachino, aiming to highlight the diversity of the state's emerging and under-recognized artists. The museum's Sculpture Garden also includes works from the exhibition and is free and open to the public daily.
This exhibition matters because it provides a significant platform for emerging Connecticut artists, offering them their first museum exposure within the state. By focusing on local talent and making the Sculpture Garden freely accessible, the Aldrich strengthens its role as a community anchor and underscores the importance of regional art scenes. The Decennial series signals a long-term commitment to nurturing homegrown creativity, which can inspire other institutions to invest in local artists and broaden the art world's geographic focus beyond major urban centers.