Norton Simon Museum
All Consuming
Pasadena, CA • opened 2022

“All Consuming: Art and the Essence of Food" explores how artists responded to and shaped food cultures in Europe from 1500 to 1900, as shown in a group of 60 paintings, prints, photographs and sculptures from the Norton Simon’s collections.

Three distinct themes—“Hunger,” “Excess” and “Sustenance”, displayed across two galleries, examine a range of relationships with eating and drinking. “Hunger” addresses the many faces of food deprivation, whether as something to be remedied, feared or even admired. “Excess” delves into depictions of morally questionable consumption. “Sustenance” looks at how agricultural landscapes and bountiful pantries evoke comfort and plenty, often associated with labor and commerce.

The third space invites viewers to contemplate art’s continued role in shaping our relationship with food, not just as a necessity for survival, but as an essential for cultural life.

Red Cape Studio was hired to design the physical layout and structures for the exhibition.