About
Emma Stebbins: Carving Out History
Emma Stebbins was the first woman to receive a commission for a public sculpture from the City of New York: the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, in 1863. This touring exhibition, organized by the Heckscher Museum of Art, covers her career making marble and bronze sculpture in Rome from 1857 to 1870. It opens this Friday inside the Driehaus Museum's Gilded Age mansion.
What to expect
Stebbins's sculptures and the story of her career, including her literary and biblical subjects and her allegories of American industry. Museum admission includes the exhibition and the restored mansion.
Good to know
- The museum is open 11 AM to 5 PM Friday through Sunday and is closed on Mondays.
- Last entry is one hour before closing.
- Children 12 and under get in without charge.
- Only credit cards are accepted.
- The show runs through April 18, 2027.
Also in Downtown, the Loop & West Loop
Common questions
What will I see in the exhibition?
The museum says the show reunites 13 marble sculptures from collections in the United States and Europe, along with paintings and archival material about Stebbins's work and network.
Why is this Emma Stebbins exhibition significant?
The Driehaus Museum identifies it as the first museum exhibition devoted to Stebbins, who became the first woman to receive a public-sculpture commission from New York City in 1863.
Does the exhibition cover Charlotte Cushman?
Yes. One section pairs Stebbins's bust of her wife, actress Charlotte Cushman, with photographs, rare works on paper, and first editions of Stebbins's biography of Cushman.
How long is Emma Stebbins: Carving Out History open?
The official exhibition dates are Friday, October 9, 2026 through Sunday, April 18, 2027 at the Richard H. Driehaus Museum.