Shrines of Democracy: People and Power in America

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The Myers House

The home of the first permanent Jewish residents of Norfolk, this historic house offers a glimpse of the life of a wealthy early 19th-century merchant family.
More about the house

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

With an extensive collection of more than 106,000 rare and unique volumes relating to the history of art, the Jean Outland Chrysler Library is one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the Library

Goode Works on Paper Center

The Goode Works on Paper Center houses nearly 10,000 photographs, drawings, prints, and other works on paper.
More about the center

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Jean Outland Chrysler Library

Visit one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the library

Goode Works on Paper Center

The Goode Works on Paper Center houses nearly 10,000 photographs, drawings, prints, and other works on paper.
More about the center

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Bruce Davidson, (American, born 1933), [Corporate - Biogen], 1986, Gelatin Silver Print, Anonymous gift, 2018.44.259

In July 1776, a group of men gathered in Philadelphia to draft words that would help define a new nation. Their declaration asserted that “all men are created equal” and possess certain unalienable rights. The question of who counts among “the people” in a democracy remains unresolved and continues to shape the American experiment.

The word democracy comes from the ancient Greek demokratia (δημοκρατία), meaning “the people’s power.” In Athens, political authority was vested in citizens, but citizenship was limited to a small portion of the population. From its earliest beginnings, democracy carried a tension between its promises and its exclusions.

Across centuries, Americans have challenged these contradictions through protest, activism, and civic participation, expanding the meaning of citizenship and demanding a more inclusive democracy. As the US marks 250 years of independence, this exhibition traces the evolving story of American democracy through four works of art spanning more than two centuries. These four works of art invite us to consider democracy not as a fixed idea, but as a continual process of questioning, participation, and change. Democracy is not a finished achievement. It is an ongoing conversation about power, freedom, belonging, and the right to shape our collective future.

2026 Interns:

• Makayla Brown

• Cate Gusentine

• Karis Hall

• Tiffany Henderson

• Susannah Poteet

• Melanie Stevenson

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Through September 13, 2026

Imperial Colors: Chinese Glass at the Chrysler Museum
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Through October 18, 2026

Ilse Bing Between Paris and New York
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