Driving Forces: American Art and the Automobile
Meridel Rubenstein, Bad Company (Paul, Annabelle, & Paul Medina, Chimayo, New Mexico, 68 Chevy Impala) , 1980. Ektacolor photograph. Gift of Terry and Eva Herndon. 2025.30.36. Peabody Essex Museum. © Meridel Rubenstein. Image courtesy of the artist.
Meridel Rubenstein, Bad Company (Paul, Annabelle, & Paul Medina, Chimayo, New Mexico, 68 Chevy Impala) , 1980. Ektacolor photograph. Gift of Terry and Eva Herndon. 2025.30.36. Peabody Essex Museum. © Meridel Rubenstein. Image courtesy of the artist. · License
Driving Forces: American Art and the Automobile opens at Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, United States, on May 22, 2027 and runs to November 28, 2027.
Last verified October 19, 2026 · Official source ↗
This exhibition explores how cars have influenced modern life, social landscapes, and artistic expression across the United States. Featuring over 80 pieces by creators such as Thomas Hart Benton and Jacob Lawrence, the display includes paintings, photography, and fashion spanning more than a century. Presented at the Peabody Essex Museum, the works highlight topics ranging from environmental shifts to concepts of freedom and migration.
Venue
- Peabody Essex MuseumSalem, United States · May 22 – November 28, 2027Opens 22 May 2027
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Images
Meridel Rubenstein, Bad Company (Paul, Annabelle, & Paul Medina, Chimayo, New Mexico, 68 Chevy Impala) , 1980. Ektacolor photograph. Gift of Terry and Eva Herndon. 2025.30.36. Peabody Essex Museum. © Meridel Rubenstein. Image courtesy of the artist.
Meridel Rubenstein, Bad Company (Paul, Annabelle, & Paul Medina, Chimayo, New Mexico, 68 Chevy Impala) , 1980. Ektacolor photograph. Gift of Terry and Eva Herndon. 2025.30.36. Peabody Essex Museum. © Meridel Rubenstein. Image courtesy of the artist. · License · Source ↗