Museums of art and design are, at their essence, gatherings of things—objects created, collected, and reinterpreted across time. This is a thing brings this idea into focus by presenting more than 40 objects made between 1774 and 2022, all recently acquired by the Risd Museum’s Department of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs. Ranging from historical works on paper to contemporary experiments, the selection reflects the remarkable diversity of “thing-ness” within artistic practice and the many ways objects can carry meaning.

Across the exhibition, visitors encounter works that approach objects from playful, poetic, and critical perspectives. Still-lifes, architectural studies, built constructions, figures interacting with objects, and depictions of the natural world together form a lively constellation of interpretations. These pieces reveal how artists engage with the material world—sometimes by observing it closely, other times by reinventing it—offering insight into how the study of things becomes a way of understanding experience itself.

At the same time, This is a thing sheds light on the pathways through which artworks enter the museum’s collection. By showcasing recent acquisitions, the exhibition honors the generosity and vision of the donors, artists, and supporters who help shape the Risd Museum’s holdings. In highlighting these contributions, it celebrates not only the objects themselves but also the community that makes it possible for the museum to continue collecting, preserving, and sharing great things.