Celebrate 100 Years of Eclipse of the Sun
A year of art, ideas, and community
The centennial of George Grosz’s Eclipse of the Sun is more than a milestone—it’s an invitation to come together.
Throughout the exhibition’s run, The Heckscher Museum will celebrate this remarkable painting and its enduring relevance through special events, conversations, performances, and opportunities to connect with artists, Museum supporters, and the community.
Whether you’re seeing Eclipse of the Sun for the first time, returning to experience it in a new light, or joining us to celebrate the Museum’s future, there’s a place for you.
Keep reading for event hightlights.
A Centennial Year at a Glance
September 26, 2026
Eclipse of the Sun Now opens
Members are invited to Member Preview hours on Friday, September 25th, 6-8pm.
Art Circle Members enjoy a private Curator reception from 5-6pm.
Contact development@heckscher.org to RSVP or for more information.
October 15, 2026
2026 Annual Heckscher Museum Benefit
Join this year’s Cabaret-themed gala celebrating Eclipse of the Sun Now and honoring Anne Kraybill (Art Bridges CEO), Jane and Barton Shallat, and The Stebbins Fund. Learn more.
November 19, 2026
Visionary Luncheon
An opportunity for Centennial supporters and members of the Museum’s Visionary community to connect and explore the future of the Museum. Contact development@heckscher.org.
THROUGHOUT 2026-2027
Kids & Family Programs
Explore the Painting and its Meanings
Bring the family to engaging monthly hands-on art-making experiences.
Public Programs
Art. Ideas. Conversations.
Throughout 2026-2027, join us for artist talks, conversations, performances, and special programs inspired by the exhibition take place throughout the year.
The Exhibition
Eclipse of the Sun Now
September 26, 2026 – May 9, 2027
The centennial celebration begins with Eclipse of the Sun Now, a museum-wide exhibition centered on George Grosz’s 1926 masterpiece.
Bringing Grosz’s powerful critique of political power into conversation with more than 50 works created over the past century, the exhibition explores how artists respond to war, immigration, civil rights, mass media, the environment, and the forces shaping our world.
Throughout the run of the exhibition, the Museum will offer programs that invite visitors to look more closely, ask questions, hear from artists and experts, and consider what a 100-year-old painting can tell us about the present.
Top to bottom, left to right: Kerry James Marshall, Lost Boys: AKA BB, 1993. Art Bridges. © Kerry James Marshall. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York. | Alice Rahon, La Conjuration des Antilopes, 1943. The Heckscher Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. Alexander Liberman. | Billy “War Soldier” Soza, The Wind Only I Am Afraid Of, 1969. Art Bridges. © Billy “War Soldier” Soza. | Romare Bearden, Memories from the series Ritual Bayou, c. 1972. The Heckscher Museum of Art, Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Samuel S. Mandel. © 2026 Romare Bearden Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. | George Grosz, Eclipse of the Sun, 1926. The Heckscher Museum of Art, Museum Purchase. © 2026 Estate of George Grosz / Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY | Rick Silva, Western Fronts: Cascade Siskiyou, Gold Butte, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Bears Ears, 2018. Art Bridges. Image courtesy of the artist. © Rick Silva. | Kenji Nakahashi, Memory, 1985. The Heckscher Museum of Art, Anonymous gift in memory of Kenji Nakahashi. © Center for Creative Photography, Arizona Board of Regents. | Ana Mendieta, Untitled: Silueta Series, 1979. The Heckscher Museum of Art, Museum Purchase: Town of Huntington Art Acquisition Fund. © 2026 The Estate of Ana Mendieta Collection, LLC / Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. | Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still #21, 1979. Art Bridges. © 2026 Cindy Sherman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY. Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth.
A Night to Celebrate
2026 Annual Heckscher Museum Benefit
October 15, 2026 | Oheka Castle
Celebrate the centennial at the Museum’s signature fundraising event.
This year’s Annual Benefit honors The Stebbins Fund, Jane & Barton Shallat, and Anne Kraybill, CEO of Art Bridges Foundation, and brings together the Museum’s community for an unforgettable evening of art, celebration, and support.
Guests will enjoy cocktails, dinner, entertainment, and festivities inspired by the centennial of Eclipse of the Sun.
Art. Ideas. Conversations.
The conversation doesn’t stop when you leave the galleries.
Throughout the run of Eclipse of the Sun Now, Art. Ideas. Conversations. will bring artists, writers, scholars, cultural leaders, and other creative thinkers into dialogue with the works in the exhibition and the issues they explore.
Meet artists featured in the exhibition. Hear from artists and thinkers making an impact today. Join conversations about political art, social change, and the role of artists in shaping how we understand our world.
Programs throughout the year will invite audiences to explore the questions at the heart of Eclipse of the Sun Now:
Who has power? Whose voices are heard? How can artists bear witness to their time? And how can art help us imagine a different future?
Programs may include artist conversations, talks, performances, panels, and other special events. New programs will be announced throughout the exhibition’s run.
Shaping the Next Century: Visionary Luncheon
Spring 2027 | Thursday, November 16th, 11 am – 1 pm
The centennial is an opportunity not only to celebrate what The Heckscher has accomplished, but to imagine what comes next.
The Visionary Luncheon brings together members of the Heckscher community who are helping shape the Museum’s future. Guests who have made a Centennial gift, included the Museum in their will or estate plans, or are interested in exploring ways to deepen their philanthropic impact are invited to connect, learn, and imagine what’s possible for the next century.
This special gathering includes an exhibition tour with Chief Curator, Karli Wurzelbacher, PhD, and will offer an opportunity to meet fellow supporters, hear more about the Museum’s vision for the future, and explore how thoughtful philanthropy can create a lasting impact.
For more information, contact Development@heckscher.org.
We are grateful to our partners at Bank of America for co-hosting this special program with us.
Closing Celebration
May 2027 | Final Week of Eclipse of the Sun Now
After a year of exhibitions, conversations, performances, and celebrations, we’ll come together to mark the closing week of Eclipse of the Sun Now and celebrate 100 years of Grosz’s masterpiece—and the community that made its place at The Heckscher possible.
Join us for a special celebration featuring programming and surprises throughout the final weekend.
Plans are still taking shape, but the celebration may include a special performance, extended Museum hours, giveaways, and other opportunities to experience the exhibition and celebrate together.
Details will be announced soon.
