The William King Museum of Art in Abingdon is set to unveil its newest traveling exhibition next week, offering a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of one of the world’s most iconic instruments.
Opening on May 15, the exhibit titled “Medieval to Metal: The Art & Evolution of the Guitar” has been curated by the National GUITAR Museum. According to a recent press release, the exhibition celebrates the guitar’s artistic journey, featuring 40 unique pieces—from a delicately inlaid Moorish oud and a six-foot-long Renaissance theorbo, to more contemporary designs such as Italy’s sleek EKO guitar and the bold acrylic-bodied models by California’s BC Rich.
“Over the past several years, interest in the guitar as an icon has grown significantly,” said HP Newquist, executive director of the National GUITAR Museum. “The guitar has been a signature element of world culture for more than 500 years; now visitors can explore the design history and artistry that has played a major role in the guitar’s evolution.”
In addition to the instruments, the exhibit will showcase life-sized, photorealistic illustrations of key guitar designs throughout history, along with 20 photographs of musicians posing with their beloved instruments. The display is supported by the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino of Bristol, with additional sponsorship from Matt Smith Realty. It is part of the museum’s McGlothlin Exhibition Series and will remain on view through August 17, 2025.
“It’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t been affected by the guitar, whether as players or just fans of all types of music,” Newquist added. “And while this may be apocryphal, it’s a widely held belief that the two most recognizable man-made shapes on the planet are those of the Coca-Cola bottle and the electric guitar.”
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