A critical shift took place in contemporary American art in the late 1950s. Long dominated by Abstract Expressionism, the field took a new turn as two major alternatives appeared on the scene: Assemblage Art and Post-Painterly Abstraction. Together, these new styles redirected the course of American art.

Circa 1958: Breaking Ground in American Art explores this decisive moment in art history by gathering--for the first time ever--62 works by 57 artists working during this brief but important period. Based on the exhibition of the same name organized by the Ackland Art Museum...