Castellani Art Museum unveils 'King of Power, Queen of Beauty'

An exploration of an iconic landscape

Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University press release & image

Castellani Art Museum, in collaboration with the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area, is honored to present “King of Power, Queen of Beauty.” This exhibition, which spans May 7 to April 25, 2027, is a compelling exploration of the famed cataracts, and traces the transformation of Niagara Falls from an awe-inspiring natural wonder into an iconic landscape shaped by beauty, power, and the human imagination.

The public is invited to the opening reception from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 4, at the Castellani Art Museum. This special event will show how Niagara Falls has earned its enduring reputation as the “King of Power, Queen of Beauty.” Curated by CAM’s Mary Helen Miskuly, and guest curator Sophie Glodzik of the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area, this exhibition creates a living dialogue between past and present.

Inspired by a 1950s tourism brochure, this exhibition explores the dual identity of Niagara Falls as a center of hydroelectric development and technological innovation, as well as an awe-inspiring natural wonder that helped to make Niagara Falls a global destination and earn its title as the “Honeymoon Capital of the World.” 

“For those that lay eyes on Niagara Falls for the first time, it is majestic and captivating. The natural beauty engages all of a visitor’s senses in wonder,” said Sara Capen, executive director of the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area. “Behind that experience is the contrasting history of extraction for the use of power and the conflict that emerges between preserving beauty and driving innovation. There is no other artist that captured this contrast better than the renowned and brilliant Polly King, whose works are featured in this provocative exhibit. The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area is proud to partner with the Castellani Art Museum in ‘King of Power, Queen of Beauty’ and share this compelling exhibit with residents and visitors of Niagara County.”

“ ‘King of Power, Queen of Beauty’ invites our community to experience Niagara Falls through the eyes of artists and historians, revealing how this extraordinary landscape has inspired generations while reflecting the ongoing dialogue between natural wonder, human innovation, and our shared regional identity,” said Michael J. Beam, CAM interim director.

Highlights of this exhibition include works by local artist Polly King, the subject of a recent CAM retrospective, which capture the beauty of the region’s hydroelectric and manufacturing industries. Earlier 19th-century masterworks, including prints by William James Bennett, John Bornet and Charles Bierstadt, showcase the grandeur of the Falls across all four seasons, as well as surrounding sites such as Goat Island, Terrapin Point and Table Rock. 

Recent acquisitions to the CAM collection by Western New York artists Jeffrey Barnes and James Neiss are included to provide a contemporary perspective. Visitors will encounter sweeping views of the falls and examine how this immensely powerful natural force has been harnessed by industry throughout the past 200 years. This exhibition offers new perspectives and narratives on engineering, environmental change, and the evolving relationship between people and place, and reveals how generations of artists have responded to the falls’ dynamic presence. 

This exhibition and its programs are sponsored by the CAM and the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area. It is also made possible through the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. 

More about Castellani Art Museum: With learning and public access at the heart of its mission, CAM is a premiere resource for the visual arts in Niagara County. The museum’s permanent collection includes over 5,000 pieces of modern and contemporary art, Niagara Falls art, and regional folk arts. CAM is committed to the preservation of these artworks, along with offering exhibitions and programs that serve the campus, local communities and tourists.

For more information on the CAM, visit castellaniartmuseum.org, and follow CAM’s Facebook page, X @CAM_of_NU and Instagram @CastellaniArtMuseum.

More about Niagara Falls National Heritage Area: The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area is one of 62 National Heritage Areas in the U.S. Designated by the U.S. Congress in 2008, its mission is to preserve, protect and promote the historic, natural and cultural resources of the area stretching from Niagara Falls to Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown. The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area facilitates partnerships between artists, public and private organizations, and community members and stakeholders to envision and create public art, impacting the cultural landscape with pieces that reflect and honor the history and legacy of Niagara Falls. To date, the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area has facilitated nearly 60 public art projects in Niagara Falls. Learn more at discoverniagara.org.