Sheldon Museum: America's 250th exhibit

Sheldon Museum of Art in Lincoln is using a new exhibition, “Hyphen American: Intersections of Identity,” to ask who gets included in the idea of being American ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary. (sheldonartmuseum.org) The show opened January 24 and runs through July 5 at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln museum, drawing entirely from Sheldon’s collection. It was organized by Christian Wurst, the museum’s associate curator for exhibitions. (news.unl.edu) Sheldon says the exhibition looks at “artistic self-presentations,” histories and struggles, and the formation of communities and rituals rather than a single, unified version of national identity. The title’s hyphen points to layered identities such as immigrant, racial, ethnic, and cultural belonging. (lincoln.org) The timing is tied to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, a milestone that museums across the country are using to revisit founding narratives. Sheldon’s version centers visual art from its own holdings instead of a chronological history show. (news.unl.edu) (artnet.com) Lincoln’s local context is part of the exhibition’s frame. Sheldon says the project was inspired by the city’s four-star Certified Welcoming designation from Welcoming America and by conversations about migration, memory, and community. (artdaily.cc) For the first time, Sheldon is presenting both an exhibition and an accompanying publication in four languages commonly spoken in Lincoln: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Arabic. The museum says community members also helped shape public programs tied to the show. (sheldonartmuseum.org) (america250.org) The museum has scheduled related events during the run, including curator-led tours and other public programs listed on its events calendar. Visit details and current hours are posted by Sheldon, and local coverage and event notes have been published by the Lincoln Journal Star. (sheldonartmuseum.org) (journalstar.com)