Stamford Museum & Nature Center Celebrates 90th Anniversary with Likeness & Legacy: Portraits from the Permanent Collection
Stamford, Conn. — In celebration of its 90th anniversary, the Stamford Museum & Nature Center (SM&NC) presents Likeness & Legacy: Portraits from the Permanent Collection, a special exhibition showcasing standout paintings, prints, drawings and sculptures spanning more than 70 years of collecting. On view daily through May 25 in the Museum’s Bendel Mansion Galleries, the exhibition offers a compelling exploration of identity, history and artistic expression through portraiture.
Drawn entirely from the Museum’s vast Permanent Collection, many of the works on view were generously donated by Stamford residents over time, reflecting the Museum’s deep and enduring connection to the community. Together, these portraits illuminate the individuals and stories that have shaped both the region and the nation.
Exhibition highlights include a striking portrait by John Singer Sargent with a complex history, having been confiscated by the Nazis during World War II. Sculptural studies of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt by Gutzon Borglum—best known for his work on Mount Rushmore—underscore the exhibition’s historical significance. Notably, Borglum’s bust of Lincoln was regarded by the president’s son as the closest likeness ever created.
Portrait of J.P. Wolff, ca. 1890
Portrait of Cezanne, 1874
Untitled (Portrait of Alberto Giacometti), 1955
The exhibition also features a bold, expressive portrait by Soshana of her friend, sculptor Alberto Giacometti, alongside more intimate works such as the poignant likeness of four-year-old Maud E. Smith. Several works have undergone recent conservation and are now on view for the first time in decades, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience these powerful pieces up close.
“For 90 years, The Stamford Museum & Nature Center has been a place where the community sees itself reflected,” said Bill Brucker, Executive Director of the Stamford Museum & Nature Center. “This exhibition honors not only the depth of our collection, but the generations of supporters, artists and visitors who have shaped us into the cultural cornerstone we are today.”
“Portraiture has a unique ability to connect us across time,” said Roanne Wilcox, SM&NC Curator of Collections & Exhibitions. “What makes Likeness & Legacy especially powerful is its range—from small-scale works to commanding sculptures—and the diversity of stories each piece holds. These works invite us to consider not just how people looked, but how they wished to be seen and remembered.”
Also on view concurrently in the Arcade Gallery is What’s it like for you to be an American? The Photography of Robert Kalman, an intimate exhibition exploring contemporary identity through portrait photography. Presented in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the exhibition features portraits paired with handwritten reflections, offering a deeply personal lens on the American experience today.
Likeness & Legacy: Portraits from the Permanent Collection is on view daily from 9 AM to 5 PM through May 25, 2026. To learn more, visit stamfordmuseum.org/legacy.
About the Stamford Museum & Nature Center
A beloved cultural and educational resource since 1936 now celebrating its 90th anniversary, the Stamford Museum & Nature Center is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of art and popular culture, the natural and agricultural sciences, astronomy and history. The SM&NC seeks to inspire creativity, self-discovery, environmental stewardship and an appreciation for continued learning across generations.
Getting There
The Stamford Museum & Nature Center is located in North Stamford with entrances at both 39 and 151 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford, CT. Visitors to the Museum Galleries should enter through the main entrance at 39 Scofieldtown Road. For more information, call 203.977.6521, email info@stamfordmuseum.org or visit stamfordmuseum.org.