May 16–August 9, 2026, Gallery 117

Across cultures, the performing arts—drama, dance, music—have entertained and educated, bringing people together in communal spaces to celebrate and question what it means to be human. Along the way, visual arts have depicted performers and performances, commemorating and giving semi-permanent form to temporal acts, from records of sacred rituals to portraits of leading actors.

At the same time, performance extends beyond the stage to the world, becoming a metaphor for our lives and how we interact with others. As we form our individual identities, we play a variety of roles in a range of social settings at different points in life, all while we serve as the audience of others. Drawing together a range of artworks from the DAI collection, this exhibition shines a spotlight on performers across the ages and how they, in turn, may shape the ways we act.

Featured Image: Jane Reece (American, 1868–1961), Chamber Orchestra Society Performing at The Dayton Art Institute (Detail), Paul Katz, Conductor, 1930s, gelatin silver print. Gift of Mr. Frank Fred Betz, 2006.40

Last day to see All the World’s a Stage