Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
November 16, 2023–March 17, 2024
Dusti Bongé approached artmaking with deep conviction and emotion, once stating she was “cursed with an art.” Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1903, her life and artistic vision progressed amidst similarly profound changes in twentieth century American art and culture.
Today, Bongé is being rediscovered. Her story presents an inspiring alternative view of modern art as well as who gained recognition and why. Through a selection of her work loaned from the Mobile Museum of Art in Alabama, this exhibition offered greater visibility to Bongé’s legacy as Mississippi’s first modern painter.
In addition to works by Dusti Bongé, this exhibition celebrated the accomplishments of preeminent New York City gallerist, Betty Parsons, who famously championed Abstract Expressionism. Parson’s representation helped Bongé achieve critical recognition and professional success in the male-dominated world of abstract painting, revealing the timeless significance of women supporting women.
Featured artworks nearby educated visitors about the origins of and inspiration behind Abstract Expressionism.
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