Peggy Guggenheim's Art of This Century gallery opened in December of 1942 with a show on objects of art featuring works by Marcel Duchamp (Valise), Laurence Vail (Encrusted Bottles), and Joseph Cornell (Shadow Boxes).  To commemorate the 70th anniversary of this show,  I created a pair of objects of art in the form of wooden boxes within which is a miniature version is a miniature version of Art Of This Century's Surrealist and Abstract galleries.

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Peggy Guggenheim will be remembered as a fearless advocate of the new.  A cultural visionary who will be forever known as "The Mistress of Modernism".

Her vast collection of modern art celebrating Abstract  Expressionism and Surrealism was assembled at a time when such works were both nascent and culturally contentious. Led by her personal preferences, she soon amassed an incredible wealth of art, both when examined in terms of coinage and cultural impact.

A few years ago on the eve of the 70th anniversary of Art of This Century I began looking for a way to honor Peggy's memory and her tremendous contribution to American modern art.  I honestly couldn't think of a better way of doing that that with creating my own objects of art in the form of a "gallery in a box" for both Art of This Century's Surreal and Abstract Galleries.  I'm pleased to say that the response to my Galleries in a Box has been most rewarding as evidenced by the following:

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Dear Ms. Foss—my apologies for not responding sooner. I did indeed see the dioramas—intriguing, enjoyable, even impressive. And I’m grateful for the attention they bring to Peggy and to Kiesler and to their story. Forgive the ignorance, or even ingenuousness—what does one do with them?   They aren’t multiples for sale I don’t suppose? If the answer is: they are what they are, then they are splendid.

Philip Rylands

Director, Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Foundation Director for Italy

January 18, 2014