DOYLESTOWN, Pa. — An exhibition celebrating the legacy of art collector Lewis Tanner Moore, a longtime champion of Black artists who challenged museums to diversify their collections, will close July 27th at the Michener Art Museum.
“Yesterday’s Dreams Are Real: Collecting Black Art and The Legacy of Lewis Tanner Moore” features works by more than a dozen artists of color, including pieces from Moore’s personal collection and the museum’s permanent holdings.
Moore, who died in 2024 at age 70, spent four decades advocating for greater representation of Black artists in museums and galleries. The great-nephew of 19th-century painter Henry Ossawa Tanner, Moore began his mission as a high school student at Chestnut Hill Academy in 1969 when he noticed the absence of African American artists in his art history textbook.
That realization prompted Moore to organize his first exhibition at the school, launching a lifelong commitment to elevating Black voices in the art world. He subsequently curated or contributed to dozens of museum and gallery exhibitions.
The Michener Art Museum, located at 138 S. Pine St. in Doylestown, became one of the institutions Moore challenged to prioritize diversity in their collecting practices. His advocacy proved successful, as the museum has added 65 artworks by artists of color to its collection in the past five years under Moore’s guidance.
The current exhibition showcases works by Barbara Bullock, James Brantley, Moe Brooker, Selma Burke, Donald Camp, Syd Carpenter, Allan Freelon, Paul Keene, Louis B. Sloan, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Ellen Powell Tiberino, and others who helped shape the Delaware Valley’s creative community.
The exhibition opened February 15th and is supported by grants from The Sunshine Fund, the museum’s 35th Anniversary Initiative, Eiseman Construction Inc., and the museum’s corporate business partners. Additional support comes from Nancy Barness, Molli, and Joe Conti.
The museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm. Museum admission is $15 for adults, $5 for youth, and free for children under five. There are also discounts available for students and seniors.
Visitors have until July 27 to view the exhibition honoring Moore’s artistic impact and creative legacy.
For tickets and information, visit https://michenerartmuseum.org/.
