Mementos of the Artist-Traveler How do you recall a place? What helps you remember a moment?

From the Latin word meaning “to remember,” a memento enhances a memory by giving it a tangible form. Some American artists, like many of us, create their own mementos to commemorate travels and experiences.

The artist-travelers highlighted in this installation found inspiration in far-ranging locales and a variety of encounters. Some of the mementos they created interpret the spirit of a place, while others deliver an “it’s-like-you-are-there” realism.

While these works of art hold the memories of their creators, they may also stimulate the imaginations of viewers — inspiring wanderlust or conjuring past adventures.

About Gallery 214 in the American Galleries Exhibitions in this gallery change every six months to showcase the variety of the museum’s collections and to protect the light-sensitive art from overexposure.