SAVE THE DATE: NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN SKETCHES AND MAJOR MUSEUM LOANS COME TOGETHER IN NEW HOUSATONIC MUSEUM OF ART EXHIBITION
Alexa Lopez
For Immediate Release For More Information:
SAVE THE DATE: NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN SKETCHES AND MAJOR MUSEUM LOANS COME TOGETHER IN NEW HOUSATONIC MUSEUM OF ART EXHIBITION
“Making His Mark in Connecticut” Reveals the Creative Process of Uruguayan-American Artist F. Luis Mora
BRIDGEPORT,
CT (July 27, 2026) - The Housatonic Museum of Art (HMA) is proud to present Making His Mark in Connecticut: The Creative Process of F. Luis Mora, a landmark exhibition featuring never-before-exhibited preparatory drawings and extraordinary loans from
major museum collections that offer a rare look inside the artistic journey of the first Hispanic member of the National Academy of Design.
Developed in honor of America's 250th anniversary, the exhibition explores how an immigrant artist inspired by Connecticut influenced the development of American art through themes of immigration, popular culture, and World War I. Visitors will experience paintings, illustrations, prints, and preparatory studies while discovering how Mora's artistic vision helped shape American art and Connecticut's cultural heritage. Curated by Dr. Cynthia Roznoy, the exhibition features important works from the private collection of Benjamin Ortiz and Victor Torchia, Jr., alongside loans from leading museums. A free opening reception and media preview will take place on Wednesday, September 9th.
MEDIA
& VIP PREVIEW
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
4:00–5:00 PM
OPENING RECEPTION
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
5:30–7:00 PM
WHERE
Housatonic Museum of Art
Burt Chernow Galleries in Lafayette Hall
900 Lafayette Boulevard
Bridgeport, CT 06604
DETAILS
Making His Mark in Connecticut will be on view from September 9, 2026, through February 19, 2027.
The exhibition brings together never-before-exhibited sketches and preparatory drawings with significant loans from private collections and world-class museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Yale University Art Gallery, The Rockwell Museum, Florence Griswold Museum, and other distinguished collections. This exhibition offers visitors a unique opportunity to follow Mora's artistic process while exploring the legacy of an immigrant artist who helped shape American art and Connecticut's cultural history.
This exhibition is supported by funding through Connecticut Humanities, America 250 | CT, and the Wyeth Foundation for American Art. For more information about the Housatonic Museum of Art, visit HousatonicMuseum.org.
Image Credits
Image1: F. Luis Mora, (Uruguayan American, 1874–1940), Lola as Guinevere, not dated. Oil on canvas, 44 1/4 x 80 1/2 in. Collection of George Wall.
Image 2: F. Luis Mora (Uruguayan American, 1874–1940), Jeanne Cartier, ca. 1916–17. Oil on canvas, 72 1/2 × 36 1/4 in. Yale University Art Gallery, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Walter C. Crawford, B.A. 1929, 1969.49.
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About the Housatonic Museum of Art
The Housatonic Museum of Art (HMA) holds one of the largest art collections of any community college in the United States with over 7,000 artworks. The focus of the HMA is modern and contemporary American and European art, including Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Romare Bearden, Cindy Sherman, and Jenny Holzer. The collection also includes artwork from Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Unlike most campus museums, the HMA displays selections of its collection throughout CT State Housatonic. Visitors also enjoy the special exhibitions and programs offered in the Burt Chernow Galleries. Free and open to the public. For more information, visit HousatonicMuseum.org.