Alexis Rockman: Oceanus
ON View June 28, 2025 - January 4, 2026
Alexis Rockman, United States (b.1962), Oceanus (2022), Oil and cold wax on Dibond on aluminum substrate, 99 1/2” x 286 1/2” x 2 1/8”, Mystic Seaport Museum collection.
Journey through the powerful intersection of art, science, and history in Alexis Rockman: Oceanus. This exhibition confronts humanity's relationship with the ocean, exploring biodiversity, climate change, and the enduring impact of human activity on our seas. At the heart of the exhibit is an awe-inspiring 8’ x 24’ oil painting, a timeline of human intervention in marine environments. Its climax—a radiant tsunami wave of epic proportions—symbolizes both the beauty and fragility of our oceans. Beneath the waves, marine species vividly illustrate stories of exploitation, resilience, and survival, from the era of whaling to the modern challenges of seabed mining.
Complementing the centerpiece are ten watercolors, each a vivid meditation on themes of ecosystem decline and species survival. These works, commissioned in 2021 by Mystic Seaport Museum, blend historical maritime artifacts with groundbreaking scientific insights to create an immersive, thought-provoking experience.Oceanus is more than an art exhibition—it’s a call to reflect on the legacy we leave behind and a celebration of the ocean's enduring power and wonder.
Alexis Rockman
Alexis Rockman is a painter who works at the intersection of art and science, with a focus on depicting natural history and environmental science. His major solo museum exhibitions have included A Fable for Tomorrow at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (2010), The Great Lakes Cycle organized by the Grand Rapids Art Museum (2018-2020), and Shipwrecks at the Peabody Essex Museum (2021). His work is included in public and private collections around the world, including the Brooklyn Museum, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art, and Yale University Art Gallery. From 2009 to 2012, Rockman collaborated with director Ang Lee on the prizewinning film Life of Pi, serving as “inspirational artist.”
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Support Comes From
This exhibition project is presented by the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, a nonprofit mission-driven art museum located on the shores of the Upper Mississippi River. MMAM gratefully acknowledges sustaining support from our Board of Directors, and other generous contributions from foundations, corporations, individuals, members and volunteers.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.