State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now focused attention on works of art that “speak” to our times and culture. Highlighting contemporary art that is rooted in American tradition but engaged in the important issues of our time, the exhibition intended to dispel the notion of contemporary art as a distant and disengaged phenomenon. As in all times, the greatest works of art are those that reflect the culture in which they are made, and inspire communication about our world, human nature and existence. The exhibition consisted of works of art being made in the United States today by emerging artists. Works of art selected for State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now were those informed by American traditions—of craft and material virtuosity, visual splendor and seduction, intellectual heft and engagement, and emotive purpose and impact. These works were both appealing to a broad swath of contemporary viewers, and also spoke clearly to the concerns of our time.