Betye Saar spent a lifetime collecting handmade Black dolls, and more than a hundred of them are now on view at New York Historical as a promised gift. Saar built her own assemblage practice out of exactly this kind of object, so the collection reads as both folk history and artist's source material. If you know Saar only from The Liberation of Aunt Jemima, this shows you where that work came from.
What to expect
The dolls are shown in cases and grouped displays, with labels on their makers, materials and histories rather than on Saar's own art. It is an object-dense, close-looking gallery rather than a walk-through spectacle, so allow more time than the room size suggests. Free docent tours of the museum run twice each afternoon.
Good to know
- Take the B or C to 81st Street-Museum of Natural History and walk a block south
- Free guided tours run twice each afternoon, subject to availability
- The galleries reward close looking, so allow more time than the size suggests
- Combine with Betye Saar's context in the museum's other collection displays
- Fully accessible by elevator
- Works well for families as well as art-history visitors
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Common questions
Who is Betye Saar?
An American assemblage artist, born 1926, known for works such as The Liberation of Aunt Jemima that rework racist imagery.
How many dolls are on view?
New York Historical describes the promised gift as more than 100 Black dolls from Saar's own collection.
Is it included with admission?
Yes, a standard ticket covers all exhibitions in the building.
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