The Grand Rapids Art Museum will be showcasing the art of one of Grand Rapids' most esteemed painters, Mathias J. Alten in a brand new exhibit, Mathias J. Althen: An Enduring Legacy.
Alten emigrated from Germany to Michigan at the age of 17 in 1889, where he spent the majority of his career painting and teaching in downtown Grand Rapids.
In the early to mid-twentieth century, Alten was nationally recognized for his landscapes, still lifes, and portraits that drew on traditional European painting as well as more modern styles, like impressionism.
The exhibition is comprised of highlights from GRAM’s permanent collection, the Grand Valley State University Art Gallery, and Grand Rapids Public Library, as well as works from private collections. In addition to paintings on canvas, the exhibition features murals, stained glass windows, and a selection of the artist’s private sketchbooks.
The exhibition lines up with the 150th anniversary of Alten's birth in 1871 and will be on display at the GRAM through April 24.
To learn more, visit artmuseumgr.org.
