ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

László Moholy-Nagy Retrospective at Art Institute of Chicago Examines Artist's Social Vision

opinion-review · 2026-04-19

A traveling retrospective titled 'Moholy-Nagy: Future Present' was presented at The Art Institute of Chicago from October 2, 2016, to January 3, 2017. The exhibition featured the work of Hungarian-born artist and educator László Moholy-Nagy, highlighting his contributions to art and pedagogy. In his 1947 publication 'Vision in Motion,' Moholy-Nagy articulated that art serves both biological and social functions, fostering coherence and cultural synthesis. This show was described as a long overdue examination of his legacy. The review was authored by Susan Snodgrass and published on ARTMargins Online in March 2017. Moholy-Nagy's ideas emphasized art's role in advancing human civilization through collective expression. The retrospective underscored the timeliness of his interdisciplinary approach.

Key facts

  • The exhibition 'Moholy-Nagy: Future Present' was held at The Art Institute of Chicago.
  • It ran from October 2, 2016, to January 3, 2017.
  • The show focused on Hungarian-born artist and educator László Moholy-Nagy.
  • A review was written by Susan Snodgrass for ARTMargins Online in March 2017.
  • Moholy-Nagy's book 'Vision in Motion' was published in 1947 by Paul Theobald in Chicago.
  • He believed art has biological and social faces, promoting coherence and cultural synthesis.
  • The retrospective was described as long overdue and timely.
  • Moholy-Nagy's work emphasized art's role in continuing human civilization.

Entities

Artists

  • László Moholy-Nagy
  • Susan Snodgrass

Institutions

  • The Art Institute of Chicago
  • ARTMargins Online
  • Paul Theobald

Locations

  • Chicago
  • United States
  • Hungary

Sources