Renaissance, Romanticism, and Rebellion at Mint Museum Uptown

Curated entirely from the acclaimed Smith-Naifeh Collection—meticulously assembled over decades by South Carolina-based scholars and collectors Gregory White Smith and Steven Naifeh—the exhibition captures a century of dramatic artistic transformation. Many of the artists featured were pioneers in their time, influencing or working alongside revolutionary figures such as Vincent van Gogh, the subject of Smith and Naifeh’s bestselling and critically acclaimed biography “Van Gogh: The Life.” The exhibition is organized into three thematic sections that trace the evolution of 19th-century European art: Renaissance explores the classical ideals of beauty, harmony, and academic precision that dominated the elite salons of Europe. Romanticism delves into the emotional and spiritual power of art, featuring evocative landscapes and dramatic narratives that speak to the human condition.

The exhibition is organized into three thematic sections that trace the evolution of 19th-century European art:

• Renaissance explores the classical ideals of beauty, harmony, and academic precision that dominated the elite salons of Europe.
• Romanticism delves into the emotional and spiritual power of art, featuring evocative landscapes and dramatic narratives that speak to
  the human condition.
• Rebellion highlights the daring innovators who broke from tradition, challenging academic norms and laying the groundwork for the birth
  of modernism.

“This exhibition is not only an extraordinary visual journey,” says Todd Herman, PhD, president and CEO of The Mint Museum, “but also a testament to the power of private collecting as a form of scholarship and preservation.”

EXHIBITION OPENING EVENT
An Evening with Steve Naifeh: A Life of Writing and Art

October 9 | 7:30–8:30 PM
Mint Museum Uptown | Free

All are invited to join Mint President and CEO Todd Herman, PhD, and author and collector Steven Naifeh for a special conversation celebrating the opening of Renaissance, Romanticism, and Rebellion: European Art from the Smith-Naifeh Collection. Naifeh will discuss the collection he built with his late partner Gregory White Smith and how their shared love of art intertwined with their celebrated careers as writers.

To learn more, visit mintmuseum.org.

ABOUT THE COLLECTORS
Steven Naifeh built the Smith-Naifeh Collection with his late partner, Gregory White Smith, during their celebrated careers as Pulitzer Prize–winning biographers and authors. Naifeh has published more than 15 books, including “The Mormon Murders,” “Final Justice,” “On a Street Called Easy,” “In a Cottage Called Joye,” and two landmark biographies: “Jackson Pollock: An American Saga” and “Van Gogh: The Life.” His work has garnered widespread acclaim, including multiple appearances on The New York Times Bestseller list.

ABOUT THE MINT MUSEUM
Established in 1936 as north Carolina’s first art museum, The Mint Museum is a leading, innovative cultural institution and museum of international art and design. With two locations — Mint Museum Randolph in the heart of Eastover and Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts — the Mint boasts one of the largest collections in the Southeast and is committed to engaging and inspiring members of the global community.

For more information, please contact:
Michele Huggins, associate director of marketing and communications
michele.huggins@mintmuseum.org | 704.564.0826
Clayton Sealey, senior director of marketing and communications
clayton.sealey@mintmuseum.org | 704.534.0186