Broken: The Power of the Fragment in Sculpture
Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Florence, September 25, 2026–January 24, 2027
National Gallery of Art, Washington, March 13–June 27, 2027

For millennia, broken sculptures—or fragments—have captivated viewers and been admired for their ability to elicit a range of responses, including awe, curiosity, and empathy. As visually alluring as they are emotionally challenging, fragments bear witness to the histories they have endured, histories of violence, war, conquest, and upheaval. Broken: The Power of the Fragment in Sculpture is the first exhibition to consider the fragment as a transhistorical and transgeographical concept. The exhibition brings together more than 70 works from over 50 lenders worldwide, including several that have never been on view in the United States. Following its presentation at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, Italy, from September 25, 2026, to January 24, 2027, Broken will debut in the United States at the National Gallery of Art in March 2027.

Broken frames the fragment as a category of sculpture in its own right. After considering why fragments provoke such powerful responses, the exhibition will explore the many forces responsible for breakage and the lessons they teach. Visitors will be led through thematic sections that engage a wide range of objects, geographies, and moments in history. One section will focus on acts of iconoclasm, or the destruction of objects driven by religious or political beliefs—from regime changes in ancient Mesopotamia to the Protestant Reformation in northern Europe and the American Revolution. Another will examine sculptures affected by war and vandalism, with examples from ancient Egypt and Greece, as well those impacted by more recent events, including World War II and the Cambodian Civil War. The exhibition will also look at how natural forces have left their mark: sculptures gradually eroded over time will be displayed alongside those suddenly altered by earthquakes or floods. The presentation will conclude with a consideration of how fragments have inspired artists to create sculptures meant to be seen as broken—a story that spans from prehistory to today. Among the modern and contemporary artists represented are Huma Bhabha, Louise Bourgeois, Constantin Brancusi, Camille Claudel, Cannupa Hanska Luger (enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of Fort Berthold [Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara] and Lakota), Auguste Rodin, Danh Vo, and Fred Wilson.  

Other exhibition highlights include the fragment of the right hand from the colossal statue of the Roman emperor Constantine (c. 330 CE), which has not left the courtyard of Rome’s Capitoline Museum since being installed there in 1486; a rare life-size sculpture of a woman (c. 200 CE) from the ancient Mesoamerican city of Tamtoc, discovered in 2005 and never before exhibited in the United States; and the remains from one of the earliest known bronze equestrian statues (c. 303–302 BCE), originally installed at the Athenian Agora and never before exhibited outside Greece. Additionally, contemporary artists, including Paul Pfeiffer, have been invited to create site-specific installations for the National Gallery’s presentation of the exhibition.

The exhibition is curated by C. D. Dickerson III, dean of the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts, and Andrew Sears, assistant curator of northern European paintings, both from the National Gallery of Art, in collaboration with Arturo Galansino, director general of the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi.

Exhibition Organization and Support

The exhibition is organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington and the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Florence.

Leadership support for the exhibition has been provided by Laura and John Arnold.

The exhibition is also made possible through the generosity of the Buffy and William Cafritz Family Fund and the Richard C. von Hess Foundation.

Additional support is provided by the Annenberg Fund for the International Exchange of Art.

About the National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through its doors each year—with even more online—making it one of the most visited art museums in the world. The National Gallery's renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.