What does it take to keep art alive for the next hundred years? The High Museum of Art in Atlanta will answer that question with its first-ever exhibition devoted to the art and science of conservation: Future Work: Preserving the Legacy of Art, on view February 12 through May 16, 2027.
The exhibition will showcase more than 15 works from the museum’s collection that have undergone conservation review and treatment, funded by a six-year, $3.1 million grant from The Sara Giles Moore Foundation. Interactive elements and rarely seen materials will reveal the research, scientific discovery, treatment and care behind every preserved artwork.
Visitors will discover fascinating stories: the preservation of artworks made with nontraditional materials such as candy, and the use of advanced imaging technologies like X-rays to reveal hidden elements beneath a painting’s surface. From paintings and sculpture to textiles and furniture, recently conserved works from all seven curatorial departments come forward with their origin stories.
The project grew from a multiyear partnership with the Williamstown + Atlanta Art Conservation Center, bringing together conservators, curators and collections staff. A behind-the-scenes celebration of the meticulous care that lets us enjoy art today and for generations to come.
Photo: High Museum of Art
