The Stark Museum of Art is commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States with a special focus exhibition and connected programming. “America 250: Three Presidents—Lincoln, Grant, and Garfield” is on view now at the Museum until December 23, 2026. Admission to the Stark Museum of Art is free of charge.
The special focus exhibition features three watercolor paintings from the Stark Museum of Art’s collection by Taos artist Oscar E. Berninghaus. This occasion marks the first time in nearly 30 years that these works have been on view, as the paintings were last exhibited in 1997. Each of the paintings shows a moment from the early life of Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant or James Garfield.
“Watercolor paintings can fade with exposure to light, so we restrict the amount of time that watercolors are exhibited at the Stark Museum of Art for preservation. Also, our collection of works of art by Oscar E. Berninghaus is extensive. The Museum has 77 paintings, drawings and prints by the artist,” commented Sarah Boehme, curator of the Stark Museum of Art. “According to recent scholarship, this is ‘the largest single collection of his works.’ When this exhibition ends, these three watercolors are not likely to be on view again for some time.”
In these paintings, Berninghaus portrayed Lincoln, Grant and Garfield laboring at a task. Their willingness to take on hard work reflected their characters and virtues, with those qualities leading to future success. The artist did not just show a likeness, he gave a history lesson with a moral.
On Thursday, June 25, from 6 to 7 p.m., a special lecture will be held to provide guests an opportunity to learn why Berninghaus chose these presidents and what inspired him to paint their stories. “America 250 Lecture: Log Cabin to White House” will be presented by Curator Sarah Boehme, PhD at the Stark Museum of Art.
“At this anniversary of the founding of our nation, it is a good time to reflect upon our nation’s history. These three paintings give us an entry into the fascinating history of three American presidents who led the nation at the time of the Civil War or in the post-Civil War period. I hope it will spark curiosity to learn more about these great leaders of the past whose actions continue to affect our nation,” commented Sarah Boehme, curator.
The talk will compare the Stark Museum of Art’s paintings with related Berninghaus paintings, and it will illustrate historical sites related to the presidential histories. While the talk itself will last approximately 30 minutes, there is additional time planned for questions and answers. This engaging program is presented as a special offering of the Museum’s Art After 5 series, happening on the last Thursday of the month through September. Admission is free and open to the public.
These programs are offered in collaboration with Southeast Texas 250 events hosted throughout the region. The Stark Museum of Art is thrilled to offer the community a unique opportunity to take part in the celebration and learn more about these presidents that shaped the nation.
The Stark Museum of Art is located at 712 Green Avenue. For more information about the Museum or America 250 offerings, please visit starkmuseum.org.
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