PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Germantown Historical Society has opened a bold new exhibition, American Mythologies, a thought-provoking collaboration between Philadelphia artists Tom Judd and Mark Stockton that examines how art, politics, and history intertwine to shape American identity.
Running through November 22, the show invites visitors to explore the imagery, symbols, and narratives that have defined — and often distorted — the nation’s understanding of itself. Through large-scale paintings, drawings, mixed media, and immersive installations, American Mythologies reflects on how America’s heroes, myths, and contradictions continue to evolve in the public imagination.
Set within the historic halls of the Germantown Historical Society, the exhibition places contemporary art in conversation with historical artifacts and architecture. Visitors begin their journey in a gallery dedicated to George Washington’s enduring image as a national icon before encountering Judd’s mixed-media reflections on westward expansion and Manifest Destiny. The experience culminates in Stockton’s monumental drawing of Richard Nixon, which anchors a darker examination of power, scandal, and rebellion in the American presidency.
“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—that are created in part through art and image-making.”
The exhibition also highlights the Germantown Historical Society’s growing role as a cultural bridge between Philadelphia’s past and its creative present. By juxtaposing contemporary works with relics from early America, the show invites reflection on how myths endure, mutate, and influence national identity in a rapidly changing world.
American Mythologies is on view through November 22 at 5501 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia. Admission is free, with public hours on Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A public reception will be held Saturday, November 1, from 4 to 7 p.m.
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