Diverse and thought provoking, Norman Rockwell Museum exhibitions speak to the meaning and presence of illustration in our world and honor the accomplishments of outstanding visual communicators. Historical and contemporary, exhibitions distinguish the museum as an important center for study and scholarship within and beyond the field of illustration.

The National Geographic Society, an organization celebrated for its use of extraordinary photography, has also been a constant champion for the art of illustration. For more than one hundred years, it has commissioned and published thousands of stunning paintings and drawings by internationally acclaimed artists, whose compelling visions of our world and our universe, have brought the impossible and the unimaginable to life for millions of readers. The artist’s vision has been at the forefront of some of the Society’s most exciting expeditions – to exotic and diverse cultures and to the depths of the ocean; on voyages of discovery into the distant past and toward an uncharted future.

This hallmark exhibition is thematically organized to emphasize significant subjects explored by National Geographic’s artistic contributors, who have worked hand in hand with scientists and historians to provide accurate and vibrant depictions and reconstructions of everything from the far reaches of our solar system to the environs and lifestyle of early man. These powerful works stir our imaginations now, just as they have over the years, and profoundly affected the way we view our world.

National Geographic: The Art of Exploration offers important educational links between the visual arts, and science, geography, and history, providing opportunities for meaningful collaboration with teachers and students working in these subject areas. The exhibition will be offered for travel to museum venues nationwide, creating a broader awareness of the role that artist’s play in shaping our conceptual and cultural understanding of the past, present, and future.