
Dorothy Dehner
Demeter’s Harrow, 1994
Corten steel, edition 2/3
32 x 45 x 25 inches
Racine Art Museum, the Karen Johnson Boyd Collection
Photography: Rachel Comande
Spotlight on Sculpture: Dorothy Dehner and Margaret Ponce Israel
September 6 – November 16, 2024
The Colonel L.C. Christensen Sculpture Courtyard at Racine Art Museum
RAM inaugurates an ongoing series of collection exhibitions in its sculpture courtyard, made possible by recent major gifts from longtime benefactor Karen Johnson Boyd and her daughter, Karen Henrietta “Henni” Keland. Both women were born and raised in Racine and became nationally known for supporting artists by acquiring their work.
This exhibition focuses on one of RAM’s strengths—women artists—by featuring steel and bronze sculpture created by two important New York-based figures who are being rediscovered today. Dorothy Dehner’s abstract pieces employ spare shapes to suggest possible imagery. Margaret Ponce Israel’s paintings and sculptures reflect influences from many aspects of art history, including Etruscan art, Impressionism, twentieth-century modernism, and folk art. Both women are represented at RAM by multiple examples presented by these two donors.
Artists in the Exhibition
Dorothy Dehner and Margaret Ponce Israel
Spotlight on Sculpture: Dorothy Dehner and Margaret Ponce Israel
September 6 – November 16, 2024
The Colonel L.C. Christensen Sculpture Courtyard at Racine Art Museum

Dorothy Dehner
Demeter’s Harrow, 1994
Corten steel, edition 2/3
32 x 45 x 25 inches
Racine Art Museum, the Karen Johnson Boyd Collection
Photography: Rachel Comande
RAM inaugurates an ongoing series of collection exhibitions in its sculpture courtyard, made possible by recent major gifts from longtime benefactor Karen Johnson Boyd and her daughter, Karen Henrietta “Henni” Keland. Both women were born and raised in Racine and became nationally known for supporting artists by acquiring their work.
This exhibition focuses on one of RAM’s strengths—women artists—by featuring steel and bronze sculpture created by two important New York-based figures who are being rediscovered today. Dorothy Dehner’s abstract pieces employ spare shapes to suggest possible imagery. Margaret Ponce Israel’s paintings and sculptures reflect influences from many aspects of art history, including Etruscan art, Impressionism, twentieth-century modernism, and folk art. Both women are represented at RAM by multiple examples presented by these two donors.
Artists in the Exhibition
Dorothy Dehner and Margaret Ponce Israel
Installation View
Exhibitions at RAM are made possible by:
Platinum Sponsors
The Estate of Karen Johnson Boyd
David Charak
Judith and David Flegel Fund
Ron and Judith Isaacs
Windgate Foundation
Diamond Sponsors
Ruffo Family Foundation
Ruth Foundation for the Arts
Diane Zebell
Gold Sponsors
Anonymous
A.C. Buhler Family
Robert E. Kohler Jr. Fund
Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation
Reliance Controls
Trio Foundation of St. Louis
W.T. Walker Group, Inc.
Silver Sponsors
Anonymous
Sandy and Gus Antonneau
Baird
Lucy G. Feller
Ben and Dawn Flegel
Sharon and Tom Harty
Dave and Judy Hecker
Paul Kalke
Horizon Retail Construction, Inc.
Johnson Financial Group
Lang Family Foundation
Dorothy MacVicar
Jan Serr & John Shannon
Sandra Shove
Willard and Mary Walker
Bronze Sponsors
Carol Baylon
Rose and Peter Christensen
Dave’s Wine Garage
Educators Credit Union
Patricia and Richard Ehlert
Express Employment Professionals
Deborah Ganaway
Carol Griseto
Hitter’s Baseball
SC Johnson
Bill and Debbie Keland
Nancy and Nick Kurten
Susan Manalli
Norbell Foundation
JoAnna Poehlmann
Rasmussen Diamonds
Harold and Lois Solberg
Kathy Stranghellini
Tito’s
Twin Disc
Janna Waldeck
Barbara Waldman