TULA TELFAIR

“I am fascinated by the subjectivity of perception and the power of memory to anchor our place in the world.”
—Tula Telfair

This exhibition examines Tula Telfair’s work at the intersection of Realism and imagination, as well as art and the natural world. This large-scale exhibition is the first solo museum show of her work in the NYC-metro area in the past 15 years. On view through October 5 are 33 pieces, including 21 monumental canvases, painted between 2014 and today. An insightful, fully-illustrated catalog, with essays highlighting her aesthetics, techniques, creative rhythms, and her position within the tradition of American painting, accompanies this exhibition. An added feature of this installation juxtaposes selections made by the artist from the museum’s collection of minerals and global material culture.

Telfair’s hyper-realistic and immersive paintings appear both familiar and fantastical. They are drawn not from direct observation while she paints but from memory, imagination, and emotion. Inspired by the grandeur that evokes awe and wonder, she creates images that convey the unnerving power of nature. This continues the Museum’s exploration of the natural world through the lens of visual arts.

Check out a teaser of the recently published catalog below and find the printed copy at the museum shop.

Artwork Hero Caption: Tula Telfair, Fluid Desire, 2025, Oil on canvas, 72 x 68 inches. Artwork © Tula Telfair. Image courtesy of Forum Gallery, New York.

Artwork Captions: Tula Telfair, Civilization Could Not Do Without It, 2014, Oil on canvas, 75 x 100 inches. Artwork © Tula Telfair. Image courtesy of Forum Gallery, New York. Tula Telfair in her studio. Image courtesy of the artist. Tula Telfair, The Vessel was Nothing, 2025, Oil on canvas, 60 x 72 inches. Artwork © Tula Telfair. Image courtesy of Forum Gallery, New York.