American Branding: Pop Art by Margaret vonKleist Emond

March 20, 2026 - April 19, 2026

Description

From supermarket shelves to television screens, brand logos have transcended commerce to become genuine artifacts of American pop culture. From the Energizer Bunny to the Morton Salt Girl, the Gorton’s Fisherman to Captain Morgan, Toucan Sam to Aunt Jemima, these instantly recognizable symbols are part of our cultural identity where consumption and self-expression are intertwined.

Reimagined by MMoA Elected Artist member Margaret vonKleist Emond and accompanied by extensive research into the history and faces behind the brands, the 26 works included in this exhibition explore how these logos become both muse and mirror–reflecting the values, contradictions, and dreams of American pop culture.

Featured image: Margaret vonKleist Emond, Kee Goin (detail), 2021, mixed media: acrylics, canvas, plywood, wire, wire mesh, paper mache, foam board, balsa wood.