Michener Celebrates Legacy Of Black Art Curator Lewis Tanner Moore

DOYLESTOWN, PA — The Michener Art Museum is celebrating the legacy of Bucks County art collector Lewis Tanner Moore in a new exhibition, "Yesterday’s Dreams Are Real."

Moore (1953-2024) championed the work of Black artists throughout his life, challenging arts institutions to prioritize diversity in their collecting and exhibition practices.

On view from Feb. 15 to July 27, the show includes paintings, photographs, sculptures, and works on paper by 35 artists from the collections of Moore and the Michener Art Museum.

“I collect [this work] because these are voices that need to be heard, and because they are voices that we need to hear,” Moore said. Thanks to Moore’s guidance and encouragement, the Museum added 65 artworks by artists of color to its collection in the past five years.

Floyd Cooper's "Child With Moon." (Courtesy of the Michener Art Museum)

Roland Ayers' "Spirits and Figures." (Courtesy of the Michener Art Museum)

Moore built a collection of hundreds of artworks over four decades. His love for the arts started in high school when he was struck by the absence of African American artists in his art history textbook at Chestnut Hill Academy. This realization spurred Moore to organize an exhibition at the school in 1969, marking the beginning of his lifelong commitment to elevating Black voices in the art world.

“It was amazing to watch Lewis interact with artists and to bear witness to their discourse,” said Curlee Raven Holton, a featured artist in the "Yesterday’s Dreams Are Real" exhibition. “Some artists were local and others were nationally recognized, but all prized their connection with him. The artworks that captured Lewis’s attention and interest spoke to his deeply held concerns for social justice, personal redemption, cultural values, and assertions of historical relevance.”

A memorial for Moore was held at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in July 2024, where his great uncle, the 19th-century painter Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859–1937), started his art career. The exhibition showcases two paintings by Tanner that were owned by Moore, along with etchings by the artist from the Michener's collection.

Syd Carpenter's "Daughter of Old Soul." (Courtesy of the Michener Art Museum)

"Yesterday’s Dreams Are Real" also highlights work by Barbara Bullock, James Brantley, Moe Brooker, Selma Burke, Donald E. Camp, Syd Carpenter, Allan Randall Freelon, Curlee Raven Holton, Paul F. Keene Jr., Louis B. Sloan, Ellen Powell Tiberino, and others who helped shape the Delaware Valley’s creative community. The exhibition’s title is inspired by a mixed media piece by artist Moe Brooker, which the Michener acquired in 2023.

“Moore sought to connect with, learn about, and support Black artists, relishing the journey of discovery itself. I hope visitors share this sense of discovery and adventure in their experience of the artwork in the exhibition,” said Gerry and Maguerite Lenfest Chief Curator, Dr. Laura Turner Igoe. With Moore’s industry-wide contributions, the Michener is closer to telling a richer and more comprehensive story about the diverse artists who live and work in greater Philadelphia.

Upcoming Events

• "The Art and Artists of Yesterday’s Dreams Are Real: An Artists Panel Discussion" will be held Thursday, Feb. 27 beginning at 7 p.m. The cost is $15 for members and $25 for non-members.
• An "Exploring the Exhibition: Gallery Talk" will be held Thursday, May 8 at 2:30 p.m. The cost is $10 for members and $20 for non-members.

The Michener Art Museum is located at 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown 18901. Hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is open until 8 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month and admission is free on the second Sunday of the month with support from Art Bridges Foundation.

For more information about the exhibit and the museum, click here.