The Montclair Art Museum will showcase the most comprehensive exhibition to date of celebrated New Jersey-based artist Tom Nussbaum with "Tom Nussbaum: But Wait, There's More!" running from September 13, 2025, through January 4, 2026. The retrospective spans six decades of the artist's imaginative, playful, and thought-provoking work, bringing together more than 80 pieces that demonstrate Nussbaum's boundless creativity and ingenuity.
The exhibition will be located across multiple spaces within the museum, including the Rand Gallery, Elevator Lobby, and Weston Gallery. Featured works range from colorful, inventive sculptures to handmade toys, lyrical paper cuts, and design objects, offering visitors a comprehensive view of Nussbaum's diverse artistic practice. Among the highlighted pieces are "East Orange Boogie Woogie" (2015), a vibrant acrylic on steel work from the collection of Jason McIntosh and Maria Zaitseva, and "Acme Robots Night Lights" (1985-1986), a collection of thirteen night lights from various collections.
Nussbaum's wide-ranging career has taken him from Minneapolis to New York and across the country through numerous commissions and exhibitions. Many visitors may recognize his public art installations, including works at Montclair's Bay Street Station and the Albert E. Hinds Gates in Princeton, New Jersey. This exhibition provides an intimate look at the studio practice behind these public works, alongside rarely seen early pieces and intimate works on paper that reveal the depth of his artistic exploration.
The exhibition takes its name from one of Nussbaum's latest works, "But Wait, There's More!" (2024), created with acrylic on steel, wood, epoxy, tin, and paper. As noted by art critic Dan Bischoff of The Star-Ledger in 2008, "Nussbaum is a state treasure, an artist who fiddles not only with his own creative dynamic but with family psychology and even community issues." The title proves fitting for an artist who has never stopped creating, questioning, and surprising audiences throughout his career.
Accompanying the exhibition is a fully illustrated catalogue by Gail Stavitsky, featuring essays by Tom Nussbaum and Jennifer McGregor. The publication includes new essays examining Nussbaum's career trajectory, creative influences, and public art projects. The exhibition is curated by Gail Stavitsky, Ph.D., Chief Curator at the Montclair Art Museum, who has organized this comprehensive survey of the artist's work.
The exhibition has received significant support from various patrons and organizations. Endowment support is provided by the Lyn and Glenn Reiter Endowed Special Exhibition Fund and the Judith Targan Fund for Museum Publications. Premier sponsors include Christine James and Nick De Toustain, along with Margo and Frank Walter. Additional support comes from various levels of patrons, including Visionary sponsor Judith Targan, and numerous Dreamer, Maker, and Tinker level supporters.
Related programming will accompany the exhibition, including "Inspired by Tom Nussbaum: Hand Building with Clay" scheduled for November 23, 2025. The museum continues to offer its regular programming, including Free First Thursday events and membership opportunities. All Montclair Art Museum programs are made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and museum members. The exhibition represents a significant cultural event for the region, celebrating both the artist's contributions and the museum's commitment to showcasing important contemporary American artists.
