Dayton Art Institute welcomes a major Art Nouveau collection

The Dayton Art Institute has opened its newest visiting exhibition, “The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art.” Debuting on Oct. 18, the exhibition is currently planned to expand into the new year, before wrapping up on Jan. 11, 2026. The show brings more than 120 works to Dayton, making the museum the one place in Ohio that art lovers can see this traveling exhibition. 

The pieces come from the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia, which holds one of the nation’s leading collections of Art Nouveau design. The exhibition includes furniture, paintings, sculpture, mosaics, prints, lamps and much more by prominent artists of the era including Tiffany, Alphonse Mucha, Émile Gallé and Aubrey Beardsley. 

Art Nouveau flourished at the turn of the 20th century as artists reacted against the rigid, industrial aesthetic of the time. Known for embracing curved lines and botanical imagery, Art Nouveau was seen as a reaction against the rapid industrializing on the world during the early 20th century. The Dayton art museum’s exhibition highlights how these design principles appeared across both fine and decorative arts, aiming to bring beauty into everyday life. 

To complement the exhibition, the museum is offering guided community tours on select Saturdays throughout the season, as well as a two-session mosaic workshop inspired by Art Nouveau motifs.  

“The Triumph of Nature” is organized by the Chrysler Museum of Art and presented by International Arts and Artists in Washington, D.C. 

The Dayton Art Institute is located at 456 Belmonte Park North. Admission includes access to special exhibitions. For more information, visit the museum’s website.