Tell Me a Story

Storytelling is one of the oldest and most universal forms of artistic expression. Whether reciting, creating, listening to, or reading tales, stories—old and new—impact lives worldwide. They are passed down through generations for guidance and caution, adapted across cultures, and created anew for entertainment, reflecting both universal themes and unique traditions. Through continued adaptation and retelling, stories appear in many forms of visual art. These works reinforce morals, educate, and invite viewers to explore familiar and unfamiliar narratives. Tell Me a Story shows that despite cultural differences, storytelling shapes identity and helps people understand themselves and the world around them. Featured artists span centuries and continents, including Preston Singletary, Joyce J. Scott, Maria Martinez, and N.C. Wyeth. The exhibition also includes European decorative arts from Meissen and Wedgwood, Indigenous storytelling figures, Russian lacquered boxes, contemporary photography, and prints, highlighting the global reach of narrative art. This is an exhibition you will want to visit again and again, one story at a time. Any time you want someone to tell you a story, miss a bedtime story, or want a story to read to someone else—with tangible importance and real human connection to locals and faces you can see in class or on the sidewalks—this exhibition welcomes you.