Levitt by the Sea showcases the extraordinary works of the Modernist artist Alfred Levitt (1894-2000) during his summers in the artist colony of Gloucester, Massachusetts. The mixture of plein-air and studio pieces displays his experimentation in the 1940s with the contemporary styles of Cubism and Surrealism, while also capturing the working waterfront and landscape of Gloucester as inspiration. Through his art, Levitt transforms familiar seaside images into visually challenging and thought-provoking compositions, asking the viewer to closely inspect the intricacies of each scene. Occupying the Ridderhof Martin Gallery, this collection of almost thirty works is a love letter from Levitt to the creative spirit of Gloucester and his memories of his summers spent there.

This exhibition was curated by the students of UMW’s Art History 317 course, Laboratory in Museum Studies, with guidance from Dr. Tracy Stonestreet.

In conjunction with this exhibition is a timeline of Levitt’s life and work that analyzes the evolution of his artistic style. The accompanying timeline is curated and designed by the UMW Galleries Spring 2024 Interns.