Interior view of the Canton Museum of Art

Christy Davis
Curator of Exhibitions
Canton Museum of art
1001 Market Avenue North, Canton, OH 44702 www.cantonart.org

What event (gallery show, museum exhibit, etc.) in the next few months are you looking forward to, and why?
We are thrilled to present our original exhibition, Shattered Glass: The Women Who Elevated American Art, which will be on display through March 1, 2026. This exhibition is the culmination of over six years of intensive research, development and organization by myself, permanent collection curator Kaleigh Pisani and curatorial assistant Kate Hatcher. It feels surreal that the opening date is finally upon us! The exhibition will spotlight both well-known figures in American art, and those women who have historically been overlooked or omitted from history books.

What are you reading?
My strong interest in history, particularly as it relates to my current exhibit projects, has heavily influenced my recent reading selections, which focus on various American historical subjects. Currently, I am reading David McCullough’s John Adams and Kirsten Pai Buick’s Child of the Fire: Mary Edmonia Lewis and the Problem of Art History’s Black and Indian Subject. I also recently acquired Jennifer Dasal’s The Club: Where American Women Artists Found Refuge in Belle Époque Paris, which I plan to read this winter.

Interesting exhibit, gallery opening or work of art you’ve seen recently.
With three children, all deeply involved in sports and extracurriculars, time for visiting museums beyond our own gallery has become scarce. However, the arrival of Audrey Flack’s painting, Marilyn (Vanitas), on loan from the University of Arizona Museum of Art this past November, was an unforgettable experience. Opening the crate was like a second Christmas morning. Seeing the detail and precision of her signature photorealism up close was incredible. 

What are you researching at the moment?
As a curator, one of the most rewarding aspects of my work is constantly diving into research rabbit holes. My background in art therapy and psychology informs a core interest: exploring the intersection of creative arts, the human experience, mental health and longevity. This focus has been driving an in-depth investigation of the artists in our current exhibition. Additionally, I am researching “The Grand Tour,” specifically the period between 1880 and 1960, which saw American artists traveling extensively across Europe.

What is your dream exhibit to curate? Or see someone else curate?
Bringing the Shattered Glass exhibition to life has been a deeply fulfilling project. A major highlight of my role at the Canton Museum of Art is the opportunity to execute these “dream exhibitions,” and I truly believe we can realize any such concept here in some form. I have a particular interest in highlighting the stories of “underdog” artists—those who were prolific but whose work did not receive the recognition it merited during their lifetimes. I am eager to dedicate a future exhibition entirely to these relatively unknown artists with compelling narratives. —

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