Love letters reveal our innermost thoughts, passions, and feelings. Where typically such intimate revelations are shared between two people, the Archives of American Art is putting such love affirmations on display in the exhibit “A Thousand Kisses: Love Letters from the Archives of American Art” beginning January 29, 2009 at the Archives’ New York gallery. This selection of affectionate communiqués and rare photographs gives insight into the lives of painters, sculptors, illustrators, and others—their relationships, perceptions, and creative energies—from the mid-19th to the late 20th century.

Drawn from the collections of the Archives of American Art in Washington D.C., this New York exhibit contains letters, illustrated poems, collages, and drawings featuring such famous artists as Frida Kahlo, Lee Krasner, Jackson Pollock, Xavier Gonzalez, and Joan Mitchell. According to curator Liza Kirwin, such emotionally charged writings, portraits, and artwork “speak to us as they did to their original recipients, allowing present-day visitors to connect with the lives and lovers of artists across time and space.” “A Thousand Kisses” will be on display from January 29, 2009 to March 27, 2009.

Archives of American Art New York
“A Thousand Kisses: Love Letters from the Archives of American Art”
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
212-399-5015
www.aaa.si.edu