June 5–August 30, 2026

Atelier 17 was one of the twentieth century’s most influential printmaking workshops. Founded by Stanley William Hayter in Paris in 1927, the workshop was renowned for its spirit of collaboration and technical innovation. At the onset of the Second World War, Atelier 17 relocated to New York City, where artists such as Jackson Pollock experimented with etching and engraving. In May 1946, a major exhibition of Atelier 17 prints organized by the Museum of Modern Art traveled to Vassar College.

Atelier 17: Myths in Motion considers the workshop in the context of global events of that era: the Spanish Civil War, World War II, and the Atomic Age. Atelier artists combined abstraction and surrealism with activism and political commentary. The Atelier was especially notable for its antifascism, producing innovative prints that commented on current events using imagery drawn from Greco-Roman myth, the Bible, and psychoanalysis.

Atelier 17: Myths in Motion is part of The Atelier 17 Project, a series of events and exhibitions honoring the workshop’s 2027 centennial. The exhibition is drawn from the collection of local collector and art historian Arthur Jones, who passed away in 2025. We dedicate this exhibition to Arthur’s memory and to his passionate advocacy for the arts and the legacy of Atelier 17.