Looking for History: MoCA\CT's New Exhibition Explores Memory, Landscape, and the American Story

The Museum of Contemporary Art Connecticut is currently hosting a major exhibition titled Looking for History. This project features works from Rick Shaefer, Ellen Harvey, and Michael Borders to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. The show encourages visitors to consider how collective memory and national identity are shaped by our physical surroundings and historical record.

Rick Shaefer anchors the exhibition with his Colossi series. These large-scale charcoal drawings feature walls, towers, and landscapes that represent the tension between expansion and isolation. His work explores the distance between founding principles and modern actions, specifically regarding the treatment of refugees and the stability of democratic institutions.

Ellen Harvey contributes her project The Disappointed Tourist, which displays over 200 paintings of places that have vanished. Her work is on view through August 2. Following this, Michael Borders will present a mural documenting the industrial history of Connecticut. This piece tracks the changing state landscape and the history of regional labor.

The exhibition remains open until November 15, 2026. It serves as a visual record of how artists interpret the American experience through a lens of change, loss, and endurance. Visitors can find specific information on visiting hours and exhibition details by checking the museum website directly.