Discover the fascinating biography of Mount Rushmore, also known as Six Grandfathers, along with insights from Sarah Bond on museums’ exploration of polychromy and whiteness.
Artist biographies have a way of leaving a lasting impact on our perception of the creator and their work. But what about a biography of a mountain?
Author Matthew Davis delves into the intriguing story of one of America’s most iconic symbols of nationalism: Mount Rushmore, originally named Tȟuŋkášila Šákpe or Six Grandfathers by the Lakota people. This exploration mirrors the inquiries made by Irvin Weathersby Jr. in his book In Open Contempt: Confronting White Supremacy in Art and Public Space (2025) as he examines monuments across the country.
Weathersby Jr. shares his perspective on Davis’s innovative approach to art history and monumentalism, while Sarah Bond discusses the evolving narrative in museums towards acknowledging polychromy and challenging the notion of whiteness. Their reflections offer a fresh lens through which to view these monuments and the narratives we construct around them.
—Lakshmi Rivera Amin, Associate Editor
The Noah Davis Collection from David Zwirner Books
Explore a beautifully crafted record of Noah Davis’s work from David Zwirner Books in conjunction with his retrospective at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Dive into comprehensive surveys and detailed analyses of his paintings to experience the impact of his visionary art.
From Our Critics
How White Elites Drained Ancient Art of Its Color
Explore the significance of Chroma: Sculpture in Color from Antiquity to Today (2025) in museums’ recognition of polychromy and its association with white supremacy. | Sarah Bond
Chipping Away at the Facade of Mount Rushmore
Delve into A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore (2025) by Matthew Davis, which offers a nuanced perspective on the monument’s history through interviews and stories. | Irvin Weathersby Jr.
From the Archive
The Regal, Bloody, and Fiery History of the Color Red
Discover the complex tale of the color red in Michel Pastoureau’s book, from its royal associations to its scandalous connotations. | Allison Meier
The Curious Histories of Colors, from Beige to Heliotrope
Uncover the intriguing origins of various hues in a colorful exploration of their histories. | Claire Voon
ICYMI
8 Art Books to Read This February
Explore the groundbreaking work of Edmonia Lewis, the origins of modernism in Montmartre, the vibrant paintings of Kaylene Whiskey, and Gainsborough’s captivating fashion portraits in our top picks for this month. | Natalie Haddad, Lakshmi Rivera Amin, Lisa Yin Zhang
