Greenville County Museum of Art presenting ‘American Stories’

Honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary

The Greenville County Museum of Art recently opened American Stories, a major exhibition marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

George Washington and the Passage of the Delaware | Thomas Sully | ca. 1818 | Oil on canvas. | Provided image. Click to enlarge

On view from through Sept. 27, the exhibition brings together 51 works drawn entirely from the museum’s permanent collection, including 13 acquisitions made possible through the 2026 Art for Greenville and GCMA Legacy campaigns.

American Stories explores pivotal moments in the nation’s past—from the Revolutionary War to the Civil Rights Movement and beyond—through works that reflect the complexity and evolving nature of the American experience. Created by artists across distinct historical eras and working in a range of styles, the exhibition offers multiple perspectives on how history has been recorded, interpreted and reimagined through art.

Highlights include several recent acquisitions funded through the 2026 “Art for Greenville” campaign, such as Thomas Sully’s George Washington and the Passage of the Delaware (1818), Ida O’Keeffe’s Roots (1932) and William R. Christopher’s Basin (No. 5—In Honor of Martin Luther King) (1963). Altogether, the works from the exhibition underscore the enduring power of art to illuminate history, challenge established narratives, and foster dialogue across generations.

By presenting works spanning more than two centuries, American Stories invites visitors to consider the layered and often complex narratives that shape the nation’s identity, offering space for reflection, conversation and deeper understanding.

American Stories runs March 25 through Sept. 27, 2026 at Greenville County Museum of Art (420 College St., Greenville). Free.

The Greenville County Museum of Art (GCMA) is considered among the premier American art museums in the South. It is home to the world’s largest public collection of watercolors by iconic American artist Andrew Wyeth. Additionally, the GCMA also has an impressive collection of paintings and prints by contemporary artist Jasper Johns, the largest institutional collection of pottery by enslaved artisan David Drake, and the largest collection outside the Smithsonian of paintings by South Carolina-born artist William H. Johnson. Ranging from Federal portraits to contemporary abstractions, the GCMA’s acclaimed Southern Collection invites viewers to survey American art history through works with ties to the South.