Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017 – Monday, Feb. 19, 2018
New York–based photographer David Levinthal uses staged photographs of toys and other everyday objects to bring viewers face-to-face with themes central to American history, identity, and consciousness. David Levinthal: Photographs 1972–2016 provides a rich overview of the artist’s work.
Through the iconography of mass-produced toys, dolls, and figurines, Levinthal’s photographs have probed the myth of the American West; World War II and the Holocaust; romantic and sexual desire; racial stereotyping; the heroism of sport; and the futuristic fantasy of space exploration. The images range from intimately scaled prints, to large 20-by-24-inch Polaroids, to monumental inkjet prints.
Evoking the visual language of photojournalism, pornography, television, film, and religious art, the photographs elicit a response not to the actual moment or event or object, but to the place it holds in a collective American consciousness. For example, Levinthal (born 1949) said that in his “Wild West” series, images depict “the West that never was but will always be.”
David Levinthal: Photographs 1972–2016 celebrates a gift to the MFAH of 44 Levinthal works. Given by Donald Rosenfeld, John A. MacMahon, and an anonymous donor, the photographs are presented alongside a selection of Levinthal images already held by the Museum. In addition to “Wild West,” the exhibition highlights series including “Bad Barbie,” “Baseball,” “Blackface,” “Hitler Moves East,” “Mein Kampf,” “Modern Romance,” “Netsuke,” and “Space.”
HOURS & ADMISSION
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Wednesday, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday, 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Friday - Saturday, 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sunday , 12:30 pm - 6:00 pm
- Monday (Except selected holidays) | Closed.
- Tuesday | Closed.
- Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day | Closed.
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Museum Admission
ALL ACCESS tickets provide entry to Special Exhibitions and the MFAH Permanent Collections. Purchase online or drop by any admissions desk.- MFAH Member FREE
- ALL ACCESS (Adult 19+) $24
- ALL ACCESS (Senior 65+ with ID) $20
- ALL ACCESS (Youth 13–18) $20
- ALL ACCESS (Child 12 & Under) FREE
- *Thursday MFAH Permanent Collections (All Ages) FREE
- *Thursday ALL ACCESS (13 & Up) $10
Directions & Parking
- Free Parking
- Paid Parking
- Street Parking
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Make visiting a snap! Visit mfah.org/parking for complete parking information.
Three Parking Garages
Parking Garage Hours
Open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.Parking Garage Fees
- Parking payments may be made only with major credit cards, MasterCard and Visa debit cards, or cash.
- For hourly rates, go to mfah.org/parking
Special Offers / Dining
Paolo Fronza, from Fellini Caffè, runs this sophisticated dining operation. Enjoy an array of Italian-inspired fare with a Texas flair, a European-style coffee bar, a kids menu, and much more at the MFA Café, located on the lower level of the Beck Building.
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