The Humanist Touch: Works from the Weber Collection

The Humanist Touch: Works from the Weber Collection is an exhibition presented by the Alper Initiative for Washington Art at the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center. Assembled over four decades by collectors Joan and Bruce Weber, the show brings together works that reflect their long engagement with contemporary DMV artists and galleries, guided by a principle they call Humanist—the belief that art should reveal the hand of the maker and “demand something from us.” The exhibition invites viewers into a world of intuitive, heartfelt collecting, showcasing expressive mark-making, layered surfaces, and works that offer an authentic encounter with human creativity. Featuring painting, sculpture, photography, video, computer art, and performance documentation, the exhibition spans styles from Cubist abstraction to hyperrealism, with in-depth representations of John Winslow, Jason Gubbiotti, and Inga Frick. For visitors, it provides a rare glimpse into how a meaningful collection grows over time, revealing which artworks linger in memory, reward close looking, and continue to spark curiosity years after acquisition.

Name: The Humanist Touch: Works from the Weber Collection
Venue: American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center
Dates: February 7 through May 17, 2026
Presented by: The Alper Initiative for Washington Art
Collectors: Joan and Bruce Weber
Curator: Laura Roulet
Overview: The exhibition features works from the Weber collection assembled over four decades, with a focus on expressive mark-making, layered surfaces, and the human touch in art. It includes painting, sculpture, photography, video, computer art, and performance documentation, spanning styles from Cubist abstraction to hyperrealism.
Featured Artists: In-depth representations of John Winslow, Jason Gubbiotti, and Inga Frick; also includes J.J. McCracken (e.g., *The Feeding (Alice)*, 2020), Inga McCaslin Frick (e.g., *Full Orchestra*, 2024), and John Winslow (e.g., *Studio Scene with the Commander of the USS Kearsarge*, 1983).
Catalog: A downloadable exhibition catalog is available online.
Press Reviews: East City Art has published a review of the exhibition.
Note: This is a temporary exhibition; no additional showtimes, age restrictions, pricing tiers, or accessibility details are provided in the source material. The exhibition is open during the museum's regular hours.