PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Germantown Historical Society has unveiled American Mythologies, a new exhibition featuring the work of Philadelphia-based artists Tom Judd and Mark Stockton. The show explores how art, image, and cultural narratives have shaped American identity across centuries — from the founding era to the modern political age.
Running through November 22, the exhibition invites visitors to examine national myths through a contemporary lens, pairing large-scale paintings, drawings, mixed media, and sound with the Society’s own historic collection. Each gallery juxtaposes the artists’ modern interpretations with iconic symbols of the past, creating what organizers describe as a “dialogue between memory and myth.”
The show opens with a study of George Washington’s enduring image as a symbol of liberty and nationhood. Subsequent galleries showcase Judd’s layered works reflecting on frontier expansion and Manifest Destiny, while Stockton’s powerful portraits — including a monumental rendering of Richard Nixon — probe themes of conflict, corruption, and the evolution of presidential power.
“We are thrilled to present, for the first time, a collaboratively designed and curated exhibit of and by Tom Judd and Mark Stockton,” said Tuomi Forrest, Executive Director of Historic Germantown. “The artists’ works both reference local history and connect to larger national narratives or ‘myths,’ especially around the American presidency. This exhibit continues our effort to use contemporary art as a bridge between Philadelphia’s history and its living culture.”
The exhibition reflects a growing initiative by Historic Germantown to blend historical interpretation with modern creative voices. By placing new works alongside artifacts and architecture tied to figures like George Washington, American Mythologies challenges visitors to reconsider the foundations of American self-understanding.
The show is open Thursdays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a public reception scheduled for November 1 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. General admission is $3 and available on-site.
For more information, visit germantownhistory.org or historicgermantownpa.org.
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