Art, Jazz + the Blues at MoCA Westport
February 26, 2026 – June 7, 2026
Art, Jazz + the Blues is a collaboration between the Westport Public Art Collections (WestPAC) + MoCA\CT
Curated by Anne Boberski + Ive Covaci + the WestPAC Committee
Exhibition Overview
Art, Jazz + the Blues explores the powerful intersections between visual art and music, drawing from the rich holdings of the Westport Public Art Collections (WestPAC).
The exhibition centers on Giants of the Blues, a sweeping series of seven group portraits by Westport native Eric von Schmidt (1931–2007) honoring blues, jazz, and folk musicians from the 1920s to the 1960s. Complementing von Schmidt’s paintings are more than sixty artworks from the WestPAC collection depicting musicians, inspired by musical themes, or exploring the resonances between musical and visual forms. A selection of important loans from galleries, museums, artists, and private collections deepens the conversation, and a screening room features historic performance footage of musicians portrayed in von Schmidt’s paintings. As the jazz great Charlie Parker once said, the show invites visitors to “hear with your eyes and see with your ears.”
Westport has long been home to a thriving community of artists and musicians. Since the early 20th century, the town has attracted generations of illustrators, painters, performers, composers, and cultural innovators, and this exhibition highlights the interconnections between artists in our own community and their relationship to broader national and international movements. Today, music and the visual arts remain a vital part of Westport’s identity, nurtured through its many performing arts venues, public art collection, schools awarded for excellence in music and arts education, and creative networks. Art, Jazz + the Blues celebrates this legacy while looking forward to its vibrant future.
Gallery Hours:
Thursday: 12-8 PM
Friday: 12-5 PM
Saturday: 10 AM-5 PM
Sunday: 12-5 PM
