HOWLAND, Ohio – A landmark exhibition that delves into the legacy and art of the Rockefeller family will get its world premiere at the Medici Museum of Art.
“From Oil to Art: A Rockefeller Legacy Rooted in Industry, Innovation, and Imagination” will open July 11 and run through Jan. 11.
It will include the first public showing of a number of historical artifacts of John D. Rockefeller and his business empire; artworks from select Rockefeller family collections; and works by Steven Rockefeller Jr., who is an internationally acclaimed artist.
Steven Rockefeller Jr. is spearheading the exhibition. He is the great-great-grandson of John D. Rockefeller, who founded Standard Oil in Cleveland in 1870 and went on to become the world’s first billionaire.
John D. Rockefeller was born in 1839 in Richford, N.Y., and moved to Cleveland with his family when he was 14. He attended Central High School in Cleveland, got his first job as an assistant bookkeeper there at age 16, and began entering business partnerships in northeastern Ohio at age 20, concentrating on oil refining.
“From Oil to Art” began as a research project by Steven Rockefeller Jr., who long wished to share his family’s story in a more personal way – especially its connection to northeastern Ohio, its philanthropy, its commitment to making the arts accessible to the general public and its personal contributions to the art world.
The exhibition, which will bring his research to life, is being created in partnership with the Medici museum and its executive director, Katelyn Amendolara-Russo.
It began with Amendolara-Russo’s introduction to Rockefeller Jr. by a mutual friend who is an international art collector. The resulting exhibition will be an unprecedented opportunity for the Mahoning Valley and a watershed moment for the Medici Museum. It is expected to capture the attention of the international art world and draw visitors to the area from across the globe.
In a statement, Rockefeller Jr. shed light on his decision to create the exhibition and display it at the Medici.
“For years I have aspired to share our collections, research and writings about Mr. Rockefeller with communities in Ohio where he attended high school, first worked as a clerk, started his business and made his home for over half a century,” he said.
“The Medici Museum’s prominence and the enthusiasm of Katelyn Russo’s leadership for this content has made our collaboration a special privilege and a fitting remembrance of a history sure to inspire.”
Amendolara-Russo described the exhibition as “a game changer” for the Valley and the Medici museum. She notes that this and many upcoming exhibitions “will establish the Medici as a globally recognized venue for contemporary and international art, providing an opportunity to help us draw artists, media, patrons and visitors from near and far to Warren, the Valley and our great state of Ohio.”
Amendolara-Russo said the exhibition will provide “an up-close view of major world-class works and artifacts, while also reflecting on how our own history is intertwined with the broader American story.”
The multifaceted and extraordinary exhibition will have three distinct sections: John D. Rockefeller’s Industrial Vision, Nelson Rockefeller’s Modernist Passion and Steven Rockefeller Jr.’s Creative Evolution.
The first will explore the enduring influence of John D. Rockefeller through family artifacts, original oil paintings of formative locations and archival materials that have never been displayed. It will include more than 75 bound volumes, portraits and even wooden beams salvaged and reconstructed from the original family home.
The second section will include art and sculpture from the collection of The Honorable Nelson A. Rockefeller (1908-1979), who was the 41st vice president of the United States. Nelson was one of the 20th century’s most prolific patrons of European Modernism. His mother, Abby Aldrich, was one of the founders of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
The third section will be devoted to the photography, calligraphy and videos of
Steven C. Rockefeller Jr., including his works guided by Chinese master calligrapher Fo Tao.
Works by Steven’s mother, Anne-Marie Rasmussen Rockefeller, who is an internationally acclaimed collage artist, will also be part of this section. A former maid in the Rockefeller household who married Steven C. Rockefeller in 1959, her life at the time was akin to a modern-day Cinderella tale.
Steven Rockefeller Jr. graduated with a master’s degree in finance from Yale University before culminating his banking career as a managing director at Deutsche Bank. He has travelled to China 60 times and settled his focus in the broad field of cultural exchange. He lives in Pleasantville, N.Y., with his wife, Kimberly, and their children.
“Working with Steven has been a true honor,” Amendolara-Russo said.
“His personal connection to this exhibition gives it depth and authenticity. It’s more than a display. It’s a story of family, legacy and art.”
Curating the show is like bringing home a piece of history, she said.
“The Rockefellers’ Ohio roots are often overlooked,” Amendolara-Russo said. “This region played a pivotal role in shaping the family’s legacy. It’s a privilege to showcase that, along with art and artifacts that have never been seen before, to the people of Ohio and beyond.”
The exhibition is expected to raise the profile of the Howland museum.
“We’re redefining what a museum in a smaller market can do, bringing world-class art and global stories to our communities, making art accessible, fostering cultural conversations and generating tourism,” Amendolara-Russo said.
Several educational opportunities will accompany the exhibition, and private tours will be available.
A VIP opening reception with Rockefeller Jr. and his wife, Kimberly, will be scheduled, she said. Sponsorships are available to support the exhibition and also for gallery naming rights.
“This exhibition is a monumental opportunity for the Valley,” Amendolara-Russo said. “Many from around the state, the nation and the globe will see the Valley in a new light.”
Pictured at top: An oil painting of John D. Rockefeller in front of an oil derrick that will be part of the upcoming exhibition at the Medici Museum of Art.