In 1946, the U.S. Department of State assembled a group of modernist paintings by American artists for an international touring exhibition. This diplomatic initiative was called Advancing American Art. Organizers intended to highlight American artistic freedom and innovation across Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America during this intensely political time in history. Within a year of the first exhibition, politicians rallied around some negative reactions and the use of taxpayers’ money to buy the art. Opponents took issue with the mostly abstract or expressionistic styles used to portray American life, along with the leftist views of many of the artists.

Following the collection’s return from overseas, all the pieces included in Advancing American Art were sold as surplus property at auction, during which Alabama Polytechnic Institute acquired thirty-six of the 117 paintings.

Come celebrate the seventieth anniversary of this historic acquisition and view twenty five select works from this cornerstone of the collection.