New Cedar Rapids Museum of Art exhibit explores the challenges, successes of labor

Work is an ever-present fact of life, and for centuries, artists have explored the world of work and workers, capturing the challenges and successes of labor and reflecting the dignity of their subjects.

The exhibit, “Men and Women at Work: Images of Labor from the Collection,” will explore the world of work and workers and is open now through Jan. 18, 2026, at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.

The definition of work is vast and varied, encompassing industry, farming, teaching, performing, parenting and countless other roles. Some artists depict romanticized versions of the fields they represent, while others critique their industries and reflect on the toll these jobs take on the body and mind.

Images of labor reveal strikingly diverse interpretations of what it means to work and how that work can be represented.

“Art can provide a new lens through which to view our lives, and even the mundane concept of work can take on new meaning and complexity when seen through the eyes of many different artists,” said Julia Jessen, curator of collections and exhibitions. “This exhibition encourages the viewer to consider how work is represented in art, the kinds of jobs present and how individual labor is depicted. Taken together, the artwork on display forms a varied picture of what it means to work.”