Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum launches decade-spanning survey of Connecticut artists with new ‘Decennial’ exhibition opening in June

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum (258 Main St, Ridgefield, CT 06877) will debut a new long-term exhibition series spotlighting artists who live and work in Connecticut with The Aldrich Decennial: I am what is around me, on view from June 7, 2026, through Jan. 10, 2027.

The exhibition inaugurates a survey that will take place every 10 years, highlighting contemporary artists across the state whose work reflects both local influence and national relevance. None of the featured artists will have previously received a solo museum exhibition in Connecticut, and all of the works were created within the last decade.

Spanning the museum’s 8,000 square feet of gallery space along with its recently renovated campus and sculpture garden, the exhibition brings together an intergenerational group of 40 artists working across disciplines. The project aims to chart the evolving creative landscape of a state long associated with major figures in art history, including Anni and Josef Albers, Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Jasper Johns and Sol LeWitt.

“While The Aldrich’s mission highlights living artists from around the world, we’ve also had an enduring interest in artists living and working in Connecticut,” said Cybele Maylone, executive director of the museum. “With this inaugural series, we’re proud to spotlight the immense talent in our small but mighty state.”

The Decennial is modeled after major museum survey series and is designed to showcase artists at pivotal moments in their careers, from emerging voices to overdue rediscoveries. As rising costs continue to push artists away from large metropolitan centers, Connecticut has increasingly become a hub for creative communities seeking space, sustainability and connection.

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Chief Curator Amy Smith-Stewart and Curatorial and Publications Manager Caitlin Monachino conducted more than 100 studio visits statewide in preparation for the exhibition.

“Connecticut has always been a site for visionary artists and daring ideas,” Smith-Stewart said. “This survey spotlights artists whose work is deeply rooted in this place yet resonates far beyond it.”

The participating artists include Faustin Adeniran, Ellen Altfest, Scott Carrillo Azevedo, Jen Bervin, Lula Mae Blocton, Dominic Chambers, Anindita Dutta, Anoka Faruqee, Renee Gladman, Tammy Nguyen, Aki Sasamoto, Philip Taaffe, Felandus Thames, Julia Wachtel and others, representing a broad range of media and approaches.

The exhibition’s title, I am what is around me, is drawn from Wallace Stevens’ 1917 poem “Theory.” Stevens lived in Hartford for four decades, and his work remains closely associated with Connecticut’s literary and cultural history.

The show will be accompanied by a catalog featuring an essay, installation photography and artist biographies. The exhibition design uses the typeface DROIT, created by Guilford-based artists Christopher and Kathleen Sleboda.

As the state’s only museum devoted exclusively to contemporary art, The Aldrich positions the Decennial as a cornerstone initiative—one that will document, celebrate and reassess Connecticut’s artistic voices for generations to come.

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Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum launches decade-spanning survey of Connecticut artists with new ‘Decennial’ exhibition opening in June