The Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London, Connecticut, will present Norman Ives: Constructions & Reconstructions, a large-scale exhibition, opening on Saturday, Jan. 29. The exhibition explores the range and evolution of Norman Ives’s work and features examples of his paintings, collages, screen prints, bas-reliefs, murals, and graphic design. The exhibition will be on view through April 24.

An innovative artist and graphic designer, Norman Ives (American, 1923 – 1978) pioneered the use of type and letterforms as primary subjects for his work designs. He was a student of Josef Albers and taught at Yale 
University School of Art from 1952 until his death in 1978. Ives experienced success through a multifaceted career as an artist, designer, publisher, and teacher. His mastery of form is seen in his personal work and designs. 

“We are excited to include this major exhibition of Ives’s work in our schedule this year,” said Museum Director Sam Quigley. “It represents our ongoing efforts to explore a broader range of art, including Connecticut artists.”

Illustrating the wide range of Ives’s brilliant artistic output, this show traces the artist’s enduring contributions to art and graphic design. He is recognized as an important early twentieth-century modernist. Ives’s visual skill and passion guided everything he did. His abstract typographic art works, innovative posters, and brochures, along with his elegant symbol designs, inspired generations of designers and artists.

To accompany the exhibition, John T. Hill, designer, author, photographer, and Ives’s student and colleague at Yale, will host an in-person gallery talk on Wednesday, Feb. 16 from 5:30 – 7 pm. On Wednesday, Mar. 16 from 6 – 7 pm., there will also be a virtual lecture with John T. Hill and Leonard Stokes, Professor Emeritus of Art and Design at SUNY Purchase, who was Ives’s assistant, colleague, and friend. For more information on these and other exhibition related events, please visit www.lymanallyn.org. 

The virtual opening reception will be Friday, Jan. 28 from 6 – 7 pm. Please visit the calendar of events tab on www.lymanallyn.org for event registration information.