Power of the People: Art and Democracy

“Power of the People: Art and Democracy” highlights the ways in which art has played a role in shaping ideas about democracy throughout history and how artists have asked citizens to contemplate democracy’s merits, participate in its practice, and call for improvements. Through 175 works of art, drawn almost entirely from the MFA’s collection and ranging in time from democracy’s origins in ancient Greece to today, visitors can compare past to present and reflect on how certain democratic struggles and concepts have echoed through the ages.

The exhibition features celebrated works, such as the Sons of Liberty Bowl (1768) by Paul Revere Jr., the ancient Roman Denarius of Brutus—or Ides of March—coin (43–42 BCE), and Shepard Fairey’s poster Vote! (2008), along with lesser-known but influential works of art on view for the first time, including Cyrus Dallin’s 1912 marble relief portrait of Julia Ward Howe and a porcelain sundial from the French Revolution featuring the new calendar.

With ceramics, coins, ancient marble reliefs with carved inscriptions, paintings, sculpture, prints, photographs, posters, fashion, and more, “Power of the People” invites visitors to reflect on, discuss, create, and participate in the democracy we share.

Credit: Overview from museum website