Micah Williams: Portrait Artist Exhibition and Preview Party

Monmouth County Historical Association's Micah Williams: Portrait Artist Exhibition to Open Sunday, May 19; Preview Party will be May 18.

On Saturday, May 18 at 6 p.m. the Micah Williams: Portrait Artist exhibition will open with a special Exhibition Preview Party.   The event, to be held under a tent on the Museum grounds at 70 Court Street in Freehold, will celebrate the launch of the four-month exhibition which will be open from May 18 through Sept. 29. 

Traveling portrait artist and New Jersey resident Micah Williams (1782-1837) was a prolific artist who has 272 known existing works.  His works are represented in many major museums and are highly sought after by folk art collectors.  Yet, there has never been an exhibition dedicated solely to the work of Micah Williams.   The Micah Williams: Portrait Artist exhibition will be the first-ever collection of sixty-seven of Williams pastel and oil portraits and, seen together, will tell a story about the new America of the 19th century.  Monmouth County Historical Association has embraced Williams’ work since the 1950s when a Monmouth County resident published the first of four scholarly articles based on the museum’s collection of portraits.  Now, over 60 years later, the Association still holds the largest public collection (23 works) of Micah Williams’ work.  

The festive Exhibition Preview Party is planned to take place under a tent on the grounds of the Museum on Saturday evening, May 18 beginning at 6pm.  A special auction of one donated Micah Williams portrait will take place at the party.   The auction will be facilitated by Andrew K. Holter of Christie’s, New York, and the portrait will be auctioned with no reserve.   Tickets are $125 and are available by calling 732-462-1466 ext. 20 or visitingwww.monmouthhistory.org.

On Sunday, May 19 at the public opening everyone in the community is invited to come from 2-4pm, tour the exhibition and participate in special activities under the tent.  Special tours of the exhibition will be given by the Museum Curator.  Children will have the opportunity to draw a pastel portrait, have their portrait photographed in the Picture YourSelf section of the exhibition and participate in crafts and other special activities outside under the tent.

The Micah Williams: Portrait Artist exhibition is made possible by support from the New Jersey Historical Commission, Monmouth County Arts Council, Freehold Savings Bank, and individual contributors.  A color catalogue is being produced for the exhibition and will be available for purchase beginning at the Exhibition Preview Party on May 18.   The catalogue will be $45 and $40 for Association members. 

Monmouth County Historical Association is a private non-profit organization that has been working to preserve Monmouth County history and provide educational opportunities since its founding in 1898.  The Association’s Museum and Library is located at 70 Court Street, Freehold, New Jersey.  Museum hours are: Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The Library is open Wednesday through Saturday.  For membership or admission fees and further information, please call (732) 462-1466 or visit our web site at www.monmouthhistory.org. 

Monmouth County Historical Association received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.