Prints by SculptorsBetween Planes

Between Planes: Prints by Sculptors

November 13 - December 20
Opening Reception: Thursday, November 13, 4-6pm

In 2009, the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art purchased Jacques Lipchitz’s Bellerophon Taming Pegasus. This lithograph would be the first print by a sculptor purchased through a special print acquisition fund created by Westmont alumni Dewayne (‘62) and Faith Perry (‘62). Thanks to Perrys’ generous gifts over the years, the Museum has added numerous old master prints to the collection, as well as significant works by students and lesser-known artists equally gifted in artistic vision. Today, our collection has grown to more than 475 works on paper purchased through the Dewayne and Faith Perry Print Acquisition Fund. 

One unique area of print collecting in which we have focused is prints made by sculptors. While Westmont has a notable three-dimensional sculpture collection, prints by sculptors are often more accessible while still representing the artist’s three-dimensional proclivities. The print serves as an ideal transitional medium for sculptors, as it fits with the technical know-how, tools and processes, and materials they are familiar with. Works on paper also offer sculptors a medium for exploring narratives, symbols, and personal themes that may be difficult to convey in three-dimensional forms, sometimes revealing a more intimate side of their work. Viewing a sculpture and print together illuminates the full exploration of a theme, with each medium informing the other to create a more complete picture than when exhibited on their own.

This exhibition offers viewers the opportunity to explore artistic vision across two-dimensional and three-dimensional media. Between Planes highlights the innovative intersections between sculpture and printmaking, while also reflecting on the enduring impact of the Perrys’ generosity, which continues to expand the Museum’s collection and deepen our understanding of how artists shape form, space, and imagination across mediums.