Circa 1971

Sun Valley Museum of Art (SVMoA) is pleased to present “Circa 1971: Works from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation,” on view July 3 through October 17, 2026. Marking the Museum’s 55th anniversary, this exhibition explores the American art scene of 1971 through a curated selection of exceptional prints and limited editions. By revisiting the cultural landscape of its founding year, the Museum offers an intimate look at a transformative moment in art history.

Organized by SVMoA’s Courtney Gilbert, Assistant Director and Curator, and Jennifer Wells Green, Executive Director, in consultation with the museum’s founder Glenn Janss, “Circa 1971” brings together works created between 1970 and 1972. The exhibition captures the dynamic artistic movements that defined the era, from the bold graphics of Pop Art and the perceptual experiments of Op Art to the austere elegance of Minimalism, the exacting detail of Photorealism, and the intellectual rigor of Conceptual Art.

The presentation includes prints and sculptural editions by an extraordinary group of artists, including Anni Albers, Larry Bell, Vija Celmins, David Hockney, Jasper Johns, Alex Katz, Ellsworth Kelly, Sol LeWitt, Louise Nevelson, Claes Oldenburg, Ed Ruscha, Frank Stella, Wayne Thiebaud, and Andy Warhol, among others. Through diverse practices and philosophies, these artists collectively shaped the visual language of their time, an influence that continues to resonate today.

“’Circa 1971’ is a perfect way to mark our 55th anniversary by returning to a remarkable moment in American art and the artists who defined it,” says Executive Director Jennifer Wells Green. “We’re so grateful to Jordan and his family foundation for their generosity in sharing this facet of his collection with our community.”

Drawing from the most significant private collection of prints in the United States, “Circa 1971: Works from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation” highlights the vision and generosity of Jordan D. Schnitzer and his Family Foundation. The exhibition underscores the enduring power of printmaking as a democratic and innovative medium while illuminating a transformative moment in American cultural history.

“Circa 1971 may be one of the most creative exhibitions from the more than 180 exhibitions we have organized from our collection over the past 30 years,” said ARTnews Top 200 Art Collector, Jordan D. Schnitzer. “Featuring works created between 1970 and 1972, this exhibition takes us back in time to the thoughts, dreams, and challenges of that remarkable era.”

The Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation’s contemporary art collection is one of the most notable in North America. The Foundation has shared its art with millions across the U.S. and internationally through groundbreaking exhibitions, publications, and programs. Founded by ARTNews Top 200 Collector Jordan D. Schnitzer—whose passion for art began in his mother’s contemporary art gallery in Portland, Ore.—the Foundation has organized over 180 exhibitions from its collection and additionally loaned thousands of artworks to over 130 museums at no cost to the institutions. Schnitzer began collecting contemporary prints and multiples in 1988 and today is North America’s foremost print collector. His Foundation’s collection consists of thousands of works, including a wide variety of prints, sculptures, paintings, glass, and mixed media works.

Complementing the exhibition, the Museum will present a series of public programs exploring the broader cultural ferment of the early 1970s. These offerings will examine the era’s music, literature, and popular culture alongside its visual arts.