September 27, 2024 – January 26, 2025
Bernard Perlin was a minority, outsider, gay man, and pursuer of truth, beauty, and justice. Born to Russian Jewish immigrants in 1918, artist-activist Perlin was a talented painter, illustrator, war artist-correspondent, and photographer, who tackled stylistic genres, the horrors of WWII, issues of social justice, and homosexuality with conviction and bravery.
Perlin’s life, in his own words, was a direct path to making art and seeking human connection. He ran in circles that included celebrities like Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, Gore Vidal, Leonard Bernstein, Liz Smith, Grace Hartigan, David Hockney, and Jerome Robbins. His first commission was created for the legendary movie actor Vincent Price.
Throughout his long, richly varied, well-traveled career, Perlin moved from Social Realism to Magical Realism and worked with the WPA (Works Progress Administration), OWI (Office of War Information), and Life and Fortune magazines among countless others. His art has been collected by major institutions including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, Art Institute of Chicago, Pritzker Military Museum & Library, and the Tate.
This exhibit celebrates and brings deserved visibility to an artist who lived passionately and unapologetically against the grain. It explores the benefits and challenges of multi-faceted identities, immigration, and assimilation. Additionally, it delves into historical experiences of persecution and discrimination against minority groups that reflect similar attitudes that are still prevalent today.
Opening Preview of Against the Grain: The Remarkable Life of Artist Bernard Perlin
Thursday, September 26, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Against the Grain: The Remarkable Life of Artist Bernard Perlin celebrates and brings deserved visibility to an artist who lived passionately and unapologetically against the grain. It explores the benefits and challenges of multi-faceted identities, immigration, and assimilation. Additionally, it delves into historical experiences of persecution and discrimination against minority groups that reflect similar attitudes that are still prevalent today.
Identity Lens & Activism: LGBTQ+ in Wisconsin
Thursday, October 10 · 7:00 p.m.
Five diverse panelists will participate in a moderated, question-prompted discussion about how individuals view and act in the world due to their uniquely composed identity. Presented in partnership and with support from the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin History Makers Tour initiative.
Community Free Day
Thursday, November 7, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Against the Grain is free to MKE County residents for this day-long celebration!
In Progress & In Conversation: “LAST KID PICKED”
Sunday, November 10, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Oriental Theatre (2230 N Farwell Ave)
In partnership with MKE Film, we are excited to welcome Andrew Fredericks and Michael Schreiber for a discussion about the in-progress documentary ‘LAST KID PICKED’ (working title) about Bernard Perlin. We invite audiences to help give feedback to the filmmakers while also learning more about Perlin.
Lunch & Learn: Greece and the Holocaust
Tuesday, December 3, 12:00 -1:15 p.m.
Join Louise Jesse, whose family experienced the Holocaust in Greece before immigrating to Milwaukee, and scholar Amy Shapiro, for a lunch and learn exploring this dark chapter in history.
J-Pride Happy Hour: Exhibit Tour & Talk
Thursday, December 19, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Join chief curator, Molly Dubin, to explore Perlin’s life and discuss historical discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ minorities, drawing connections to today’s social issues.
To Tell the Truth: Bernard Perlin during the New Deal and World War II
Thursday, January 16, 7:00 – 8:15 p.m.
During the 1930s, Bernard Perlin was one of many artists employed by New Deal programs such as the Works Progress Administration to create public works of art. Learn about how Perlin and his mentor Ben Shahn approached art and propaganda during these years and their use of the visual language of social realism.
Joseph R. Pabst
Bud & Sue Selig
Estate of Betty Ann Croen
Linda & Eli Frank
Greater Milwaukee Foundation-Mary A. Tingley Fund
Nina & Richard Edelman
Andy & Genina Berger
Idy Goodman
Leslie Hayes
Megan Holbrook
Doug & Patti Levy
Margie & Jon Margolies
Cathy & Randy Nemerovski
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin
Jen & Jason Rosenberg
We Energies
Wisconsin Historical Society/ Wisconsin History Makers Tour
Anonymous
Michael Briselli & Jeannee Sacken
Peter Goldberg
Chris Gould
The Mandel Group
Adam Shapiro
Jason Steigman & Dori Frankel Steigman
Marley & Gary Stein
Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce
In-kind: MKE Film
Against the Grain is curated by Jewish Museum Milwaukee and showcases art from Bernard Perlin’s estate. The exhibition also includes never-before-seen photographs taken by Perlin in 1938 Poland and never-before-seen sketches for OWI propaganda posters.
Images:
(top) Self Portrait as Angel (detail), 1939, pencil on paper, Michael Schreiber Collection
(carousel)
After Long Weeks, 1944, casein tempura, Donald Klein Collection
Sukkot, 1962
Picasso First Night, 1939
(bottom) The Bartender (detail), 1958, oil on canvas, Michael Schreiber Collection