Fish Out of Water: Aquatic Art from the Collection

The idiom “fish out of water” refers to the feeling of a new or uncomfortable situation, but with this exhibition, we interpret it literally: while this art is on dry land, visual depictions of fish are far from novel. A ready subject for artists inspired by everyday life, fish have swum their way into art for millennia. Their scale-patterned skin and simple, recognizable shape make them an effective design motif, while their importance as a food source and association with life-giving water evoke myriad symbolic meanings.

We went fishing in our collection and caught a selection as diverse as the species, from glimmering glass to scientific illustrations and still life paintings. Artists include Hiroshi Yamano, Russell Oettel, and Sherman F. Denton.

This exhibition was curated by Lauren Wolfer, Associate Curator of Special Collections and Archives, and is supported by the Edward D. and Ione Auer Foundation.