1938 Annual Exhibition of Contemporary American Painting

Nov 2–Dec 11, 1938

Cover for 1938 Annual Exhibition of Contemporary American Painting catalogue
Cover for 1938 Annual Exhibition of Contemporary American Painting catalogue

Cover for 1938 Annual Exhibition of Contemporary American Painting catalogue

View the full exhibition catalogue at the Internet Archive.

In the News

“Of course there is about the usual amount of paint in evidence, but much of it might just as well have stayed in the tubes—a judgment that would be over severe, no doubt, were there no standards to be upheld . . .” —The New York Times

“[The exhibition] has significance beyond the limits of its actual artistic accomplishment for that part of the public which regards art as an experience that may intensify life, making it more profound and coherent.” —The North American Review

More from this series

Learn more about the Whitney Biennial, the longest-running survey of American art.

On the Hour

A 30-second online art project:
Maya Man, A Realistic Day In My Life Living In New York City

Learn more about this project

Learn more at whitney.org/artport

On the Hour projects can contain motion and sound. To respect your accessibility settings autoplay is disabled.