Dear Friends,

I have seen the galleries and all I can say is Wow! We have re-united works by Picasso, Matisse, Duchamp, and Cézanne, among others, in celebration of the 1913 Armory Show—a show that exploded New York into the modern world. To see some of the greatest works of art from across the U.S. and Europe within the halls of a single museum truly is a-once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Our reprisal of that show—The Armory Show at 100: Modern Art and Revolution—bridges the gap that traditionally separates art and history museums and exemplifies a key, New-York Historical Society differentiating strategy: to present great art as a means of engaging visitors in the enjoyment of learning about history, and to convey history connected with art so as to enhance and increase the appreciation and understanding of both.

It is a rare and wonderful opportunity to view many of the iconic works that delivered the full impact of modernism when the Armory Show first opened in New York 100 years ago. The Armory Show at 100 offers the chance to look back and understand why the original exhibition was such a pivot point, why it changed the way Americans saw and thought, and why nothing was the same afterward. It goes to the heart of New-York Historical’s mission of “Making History Matter.”

I look forward to seeing you in the galleries!