Gladys Nilsson's 'Gleefully Askew' Retrospective Opens at Crocker Art Museum

The Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, California, is hosting 'Gleefully Askew: A Gladys Nilsson Retrospective,' marking the most extensive exhibition of her career from July 19 to November 29, 2026. This showcase includes over 100 pieces created over six decades, featuring watercolors, acrylics, collages, and drawings. At 86, Nilsson gained recognition in the late 1960s as part of the Hairy Who, a group within the Chicago Imagists. Curated by Francesca Wilmott, who first discovered Nilsson's art while studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the exhibition seeks to elevate her status as an internationally significant artist. Notable works include her 1964 piece 'Gigantica' and later collages made from personal photographs and Vogue magazines. Since 2014, she has collaborated with Garth Greenan Gallery in New York and has recently completed wall drawings for several prestigious institutions. In 2024, she was honored with the Anonymous Was a Woman award.