Recent Acquisitions: Stephanie Bernheim and Theresa Bernstein

The League's permanent collection traces the past 150 years of American art with more than 2,500 outstanding works by League artists. Today, the League continues to collect artwork by current and former instructors and students in every medium – from painting and drawing to sculpture and mixed media. Newly acquired works are on view in the Registration Office.

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This rotation of recent acquisitions features works by League alumni Stephanie Bernheim and Theresa Bernstein.

In her formative years as an artist, Bernheim studied composition with Ethel Katz and anatomy with Thomas Fogarty at the League. She went on to study at Sarah Lawrence College and New York University, developing a prolific career with exhibitions at the Arts Club of Chicago, A.I.R. Gallery, Hudson Hall, MoMA PS1, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Princeton University Art Museum, and Milwaukee Museum of Art, to name just a few. This exhibition features her seminal work from the 1980s as well as more recent experimental works.  

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Bernstein studied at the League after graduating from the Philadelphia School of Design for Women. She took classes with William Merritt Chase on 57^th Street as well as with Birge Harrison at the League’s now defunct outpost in Woodstock, New York. Bernstein, who died in 2002 at the age of 111, was very active in the art worlds of New York, Philadelphia, as well as in Europe throughout her long career; however, she faced many obstacles to success during her lifetime. Only since her death has she finally been given her proper due.  

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Together, Bernheim and Bernstein represent over a century of artmaking at the League. Their presentation celebrates the importance of women artists in our history and collection.  

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The League extends its deepest gratitude to the Carroll Family Collection for donating these important works. They are shown alongside thee works on loan.

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View the full catalog

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