Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, presents Diego Rivera’s America, the first major exhibition devoted solely to the Mexican artist in more than two decades. On view through July 31, this show is the second and final stop of the exhibition and the last opportunity for many visitors to experience Rivera’s sweeping vision of the Americas.
© 2022 Banco de México Diego Rivera Frida Kahlo Museums Trust, Mexico, D.F. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Diego Rivera (1886–1957) is one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, known for epic murals and powerful easel paintings that portray everyday life. This exhibition offers a contemporary and critical reading of Rivera’s practice across media, from wall paintings to intimate studies.
Diego Rivera’s America brings together more than 130 works—drawings, easel paintings, fresco studies and larger mural projects—organized into thematic sections that reveal the breadth of Rivera’s creativity. The presentation gathers more work from this pivotal period than has been assembled since the artist’s lifetime, offering new perspectives on his artistic development.
“In the exhibition, scenes of everyday life and labor Rivera created in his home country reveal his commitment to reflecting and shaping Mexican national identity,” said Jen Padgett, acting Windgate curator of craft at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Rivera also maintained a significant international presence and pursued connections between Mexico and the United States. His storytelling through imagery has engaged audiences worldwide for decades.
© 2022 Banco de México Diego Rivera Frida Kahlo Museums Trust, Mexico, D.F. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Rivera’s murals and paintings document human experience—families and workers, struggle and celebration, histories and imagined futures. Between the early 1920s and the early 1940s he worked in both Mexico and the United States, drawing inspiration from the social and cultural life of both countries. He often envisioned an America that united Indigenous heritage with an industrial future and emphasized cooperation across borders.
The exhibition covers roughly 25 years, a period shaped by the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution, the economic turmoil of the Great Depression, the rise of fascism, and World War II. These global events informed Rivera’s perspective as he developed a distinct 20th-century vision of Mexico and the United States, influenced by frequent travel and cross-border exchange.
“Rivera believed in the power of art to change the world, a sentiment that is more relevant today than ever,” said James Oles, the exhibition curator.
© 2022 Banco de México Diego Rivera Frida Kahlo Museums Trust, Mexico, D.F. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Highlights include iconic paintings such as Dance in Tehuantepec (1928), The Flowered Canoe (1931), Nude with Calla Lilies (1944), and other portrayals of flower carriers and market vendors. The exhibition also features three major paintings by Frida Kahlo created in San Francisco, including a self-portrait depicting Kahlo standing beside Rivera.
The show draws on loans from museums and private collections in both the United States and Mexico, presenting rarely seen works alongside studies for major mural commissions in Mexico City, San Francisco and New York. Large-scale digital projections recreate the immersive presence of Rivera’s murals and help visitors appreciate their monumental scale and narrative complexity.
Throughout the run of the exhibition, Crystal Bridges is offering immersive programs that celebrate Mexican artistic traditions and contemporary practices. Activities include artmaking, storytelling, guided tours, and public talks. Programs are designed for visitors of all ages and connect local artists and Latinx organizations with the museum’s public offerings.
© 2022 Banco de México Diego Rivera Frida Kahlo Museums Trust, Mexico, D.F. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Upcoming programs include Cocktail Tours: Diego Rivera’s America on June 22 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Participants meet in the Garrison Lobby for a demonstration by master mixologists and then proceed to the galleries for an intimate look at how Rivera articulated his vision of America. Tickets are available on the Crystal Bridges website (pricing varies for members and non-members).