Crystal Bridges Reintroduces an American Icon in Grandma Moses: A Good Day’s Work

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - From September 12, 2026, to March 29, 2027, Crystal Bridges presents Grandma Moses: A Good Day's Work . The exhibitioncelebrates Anna Mary Robertson, better known as "Grandma Moses" (1860-1961), a multidimensional force in American art, whose beloved painted recollections of rural life earned her a distinctive place in the cultural imagination of the postwar era. Drawing its name from Moses' reflection on her own life as "a good day's work," the exhibition reveals how Moses' art fused creativity, labor, community, and memories from her century-long life.

Grandma Moses: A Good Day's Work contains a selection of objects primarily created between the late 1930s and the artist's death in 1961. Organized in six thematic sections, the exhibit explores lesser-known aspects of Moses' life, including the years she spent living, working, and raising her family in post-Reconstruction Virginia. Later sections examine Moses' artistic skills as well as her personal transformation from private farmwife to internationally famous artist during the Cold War. Photographs, ephemeral objects, and Moses' own words, drawn largely from her autobiography, illuminate artworks that were deeply connected to the artist's life.

"Grandma Moses: A Good Day's Work invites visitors to consider Moses' legacy in the context of contemporary life the United States," said Larissa Randall, associate curator of American art. "We're looking forward to introducing her extensive body of work to younger generations by foregrounding her artistic skill and entrepreneurial prowess."

In a lifetime that spanned the presidencies of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, the artist experienced seismic historical shifts, including the post-Reconstruction and civil rights eras and two world wars. She began painting in earnest in her late 70s and was 80 when gallerist Otto Kallir introduced her to the American public with her first solo exhibition.

In her artworks, Moses melded direct observation of nature and life as she saw it, resulting in distinctive, yet engaging, stories of America. Dubbed "Grandma Moses" by the press, she quickly became a media sensation, achieving a controversial celebrity status that surpassed most artists of her day and remains compelling today.

"Grandma Moses' career was grounded in a deep love for her craft, but it was often polarizing even during her lifetime," said Josie Johnson, assistant curator of modern art. "She challenged social norms, became a proponent for democratic American values, and inspired lifelong learning-and we're excited to see how her work continues to resonate today."

The exhibition will travel to Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, Arkansas, following an eight-month presentation at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Anchored by 33 artworks from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, the exhibition also draws from private collections and public museums and institutions, including the Bennington Museum in Bennington, Vermont, and Crystal Bridges. Crystal Bridges' presentation of A Good Days Work is co-curated by Josie Johnson and Larissa Randall with Seynabou Diallo, curatorial assistant, American and Modern art.

A lineup of public programs will accompany the exhibition's opening weekend. On Friday, September 11, the opening lecture will feature co-curators Johnson and Randall in conversation with experts Leslie Umberger and Jane Kallir. On Saturday, September 12, an Opening Celebration will feature a full day of art and craft demonstrations, storytelling, and live music performances. Guests can participate in live artmaking with Equestrian Bridges and Friendly Farms, learn line dancing with Benton County Boot Scooters, and engage in conversation with Violet Hensley, a 109-year-old Arkansan known for whitling and fiddling. Additional programs throughout the exhibition's run will include gallery talks, artmaking workshops, cocktail tours, listening sessions, and drop-in tours.

Tickets to Grandma Moses: A Good Day's Work are $15, free for Crystal Bridges members, SNAP participants, veterans, and adults and youth 25 and under. For more information on Grandma Moses: A Good Day's Work and related programming, please visit the exhibition webpage .

Grandma Moses: A Good Day's Work is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum . Major support is provided by the Herbert Waide Hemphill Jr. American Folk Art Fund and the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum.

The exhibition is curated by Leslie Umberger, senior curator of folk and self-taught art, and Randall R. Griffey, former head curator, with support from curatorial assistant Maria R. Elipert.

About Crystal Bridges

The mission of Crystal Bridges is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Since opening in 2011, the museum has welcomed more than 15 million visitors across its spaces, with no cost for admission. Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 as a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization by philanthropist Alice Walton . The c ollection spans five centuries of American masterworks from early American to current day and is enhanced by temporary exhibitions .

The museum is nestled on 134 acres of Ozark landscape and was designed by the world-renowned Safdie Architects . A rare Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house was preserved and relocated to the museum grounds in 2015. Crystal Bridges offers public programs including lectures, performances, classes, and teacher development opportunities, and is the home of the prestigious Don Tyson Prize for the Advancement of American Art and Tyson Scholars of American Art Program . Some 558,375 school children have participated in the Willard and Pat Walker School Visit program , which provides educational experiences for school groups at no cost to the schools.

Additional museum amenities include a restaurant , gift store , library , and five miles of art and walking trails. In February 2020, the museum opened the Momentary in Downtown Bentonville (507 SE E Street), a venue for the music, art, and food of our time. Crystal Bridges' 114,000 square foot expansion opened to the public June 6 and 7, 2026, allowing the museum to expand access for all. For more information, visit CrystalBridges.org . The museum is located at 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.

For more information on Crystal Bridges, please contact:

Allison Elbl , Alexa Price , Mike Jones , and Dakota Rosen