For America: Paintings from the National Academy of Design explores the ways in which artists have represented themselves and their country. This is the first exhibition to highlight the unique formation of the National Academy’s collection. Since its founding in 1825, the Academy has required all Academicians to donate a representative work to the Academy’s collection, and from 1839 to 1994, the Academy also required Associates to present a portrait of themselves, whether painted by their own hand or by that of a fellow artist. The exhibition is divided into five sections: Founding an American School, A New Internationalism, Painting America, Postwar Realisms, and For America. Well-known artists such as Thomas Eakins, Winslow Homer, William Merritt Chase, John Singer Sargent, Richard Estes, Lois Dodd, Andrew Wyeth, Maxfield Parrish, Cecilia Beaux, Wayne Thiebaud, and many others are featured. Comprised of 100 paintings created between 1809 and the present, the exhibition visually documents the history of American painting through the lens of the Academy.

For America: Paintings from the National Academy of Design is organized by the American Federation of Arts and the National Academy of Design. Support for the national tour is provided by the JFM Foundation, Monique Schoen Warshaw, and Steph and Jody La Nasa.