Imprinted: Illustrating Race — assembled by the Norman Rockwell Museum with co-curator Robyn Phillips-Pendleton (University of Delaware) — examines more than three centuries of American illustration and how widely circulated imagery has reflected and shaped perceptions of race. The presentation places Norman Rockwell’s powerful Civil Rights–era images in conversation with a sweeping historical survey featuring artists and illustrators such as Faith Ringgold, Emory Douglas, Howard Pyle, and Loveis Wise.
Featuring over 200 works originally commissioned for newspapers, magazines, books, trade cards, posters, packaging, and advertising, the Delaware Art Museum (DelArt) exhibition traces the prevalence of harmful and prolific racial stereotypes that were historically sanctioned in popular print culture. At the same time, Imprinted celebrates the concerted efforts of 20th- and 21st-century artists, editors, and publishers who used illustration to challenge those narratives — publishing inclusive imagery that emphasizes agency and equity across print and digital platforms.
The Norman Rockwell Museum convened a national advisory board of artists and scholars during the show’s development; DelArt’s Curator of American Art, Heather Campbell Coyle, served on that board and contributed to the exhibition catalogue. The presentation at DelArt is part of an institutional exchange: while Imprinted is on view here, the Norman Rockwell Museum will host DelArt’s Jazz Age Illustration from November 8, 2025, to April 6, 2026 — an exhibition swap that highlights DelArt’s commitment to creative collaborations and partnerships that enhance public engagement with art and community.
Imprinted opens at the Delaware Art Museum on October 18, 2025. The show invites visitors to confront complex histories, consider the lasting power of images, and join conversations about representation and publishing. Gallery interpretation, catalogue essays, and a public program series will provide context and opportunities for discussion.
For more information, visit delart.org.
