Painting of USMC soldier and helicopter in battle zone

Now Showing: “On the Road” Marine Corps Art Exhibit

"On the Deck" by Colonel Avery Chenoweth, USMCR

Art from the Front Lines

Conflict and compassion shaped images that still speak today.

The U.S. Marine Corps Air-Ground Team: Art from the Collection of the National Museum of the Marine Corps “On the Road” is a traveling exhibit now on view at Norwich University’s Sullivan Museum and History Center through January 2026. The exhibit is made possible by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit partner that funds and supports major programs and exhibitions at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. This special collection features original works created by Marine and civilian combat artists who served in the field, documenting training, combat, and humanitarian missions from World War I through the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

About the Marine Corps Combat Art Program

The Marine Corps Combat Art Program began during World War II and was formalized in 1966 during the Vietnam War. Its mission is simple: send artists into the field to record what they see. These artists work on the ground, often embedded alongside Marines, capturing moments that photography cannot. Quiet intensity, connection, and the human cost of service are all rendered in paint, pencil, and ink.

The program continues today through the National Museum of the Marine Corps and includes both former service members and professional artists. Featured contributors include Kristopher Battles, Elize McKelvey, and Donna Neary, among others, each bringing their unique perspective to the Marine experience.

U.S. Marine Corps Legacy

As the United States Marine Corps prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in November 2025, this exhibit offers a timely and powerful way to reflect on its impact through the eyes of those who observed, served, and created.

About the Sullivan Museum and History Center

The Sullivan Museum and History Center is Norwich University’s home for exploration, discovery, and connection. Named for General Gordon R. Sullivan '59, the museum invites visitors to uncover stories from Norwich’s founding to the present day. As Vermont’s only Smithsonian Affiliate, it offers a dynamic mix of student-led exhibits, historic artifacts, and interactive displays that bring two centuries of military, academic, and cultural history to life. Whether you are visiting in person or exploring online, the Sullivan Museum is a space where Norwich’s past meets its future.

Guided into Position by Col. Avery Chenoweith

Guided into Position – Colonel Avery Chenoweth, USMCR

Meet the Artists

Their work was not imagined.  It was drawn from what unfolded in front of them.  Many of the artists featured in this exhibit were trained to sketch in the field, often working under the same conditions as the Marines they were documenting.  Some are veterans themselves while others served as embedded civilian combat artists.  All of them transformed lived moments into works of reflection and meaning.  Their perspective brings us closer to the people, places, and emotions behind U.S. Marine Corps service.

Artist creating a sketch during deployment

Staff Sergeant Kristopher Battles, USMCR (Ret.)

Kristopher Battles

Kris Battles served for a decade in the Marine Corps Reserve before returning to duty in 2006 as a combat artist. He deployed to Iraq and Haiti, documenting both combat and humanitarian missions. Today, he serves as the artist in residence at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, where he continues to create and mentor new artists in the Combat Art Program.

"I've had the privilege of traveling all over the world to sketch and photograph Marines and sailors in both war and peace. I've grown as a Marine, a person, and an artist. The Combat Art Program became my real masters program in painting."
— Kris Battles, artist in residence, National Museum of the Marine Corps

Black and white image of female pilot in Marine gear

Colonel Donna Neary, USMCR (Ret.)

Donna Neary

Donna Neary served more than 20 years as a combat artist with the Marine Corps Reserve. Her assignments took her across the globe, including to Somalia, Korea and the Arctic Circle. She is recognized for her historical interpretations of Marine Corps service, as well as for designing the 1994 White House Christmas ornament. Neary continues to create from her studio in the Shenandoah Valley.

"The subject matter available to document in art was wide-ranging and inspiring. I am honored to have been part of the Marine Corps Art Program."
— Donna Neary, combat artist and retired Marine Corps Reserve captain

Female artist with pencil and sketchpad smiling at camera

Staff Sergeant Elize McKelvey, USMC (Ret.)

Elize McKelvey

Elize McKelvey joined the Marine Corps the day after graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration. She began her service in Combat Camera and later served as a combat artist in Iraq. Known for her emotionally resonant work and commitment to storytelling, McKelvey continues to contribute to the program as a freelance artist and remains active in both veteran and arts communities.

"You never want to limit how you share a story. A photo is a moment in time. An art piece can take all those moments and put them into one painting."
— Elize McKelvey, combat artist and Marine Corps veteran

Male artist with sketchbook

Marc Poole, USMC Combat Artist

Marc Poole

Marc Poole is a Mississippi-based artist and college professor whose work with the Marine Corps Combat Art Program focuses on aviation and modern deployments. He brings the perspective of a civilian artist embedded with military units in the field. His paintings are shaped by firsthand observation and a deep respect for the people and missions he documents.

"Capturing the stories of those whose experiences went unvisualized gives me a greater artistic purpose. We know what we create becomes part of the Marine Corps historical record."
— Marc Poole, combat artist

Step Closer to the Story

Explore the experiences behind the art, plan your visit, and discover how this powerful collection came to Norwich. From the legacy of the Combat Art Program to visitor information and press resources, these highlights offer deeper ways to engage.

Aerial view of the National Museum of the Marine Corps

About the Marine Corps Combat Art Program

Since World War II, the U.S. Marine Corps has sent artists into the field to record what others cannot. Formally established in 1966, The Marine Corps Combat Art Program continues to embed both enlisted and civilian artists alongside Marines to sketch, observe and create on location.

Unlike photography, combat art allows for emotion, memory and story to live in a single frame. The program now operates through the National Museum of the Marine Corps and continues to preserve the Marine experience through paint, pencil, ink and sculpture.

The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation provides vital support for the Combat Art Program and the exhibitions that share its work with the public.

Learn More About the Program
Exterior of Sullivan Museum at Norwich University

Plan Your Visit

The “On the Road” Marine Corps art exhibit is on view at Norwich University’s Sullivan Museum and History Center in Northfield, Vermont through January 6, 2026. 

Hours of Operation: 
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

Please note, the museum is closed during all university closures, including the following holidays: Labor Day (September 1), Thanksgiving Break (November 26-28), and Winter Break (December 24- January 2). 

Admission: 
Free; accessible via Kreitzberg Library or the front entrance at the Bicentennial Stairs

Address:  
158 Harmon Drive, Northfield, VT 05663 
View on our Interactive Map

Parking:
Lot G: View on our Interactive Map

View more information about this exhibit
Capt. Alden Partridge statue surrounded by golden fall foliage.

Sullivan Museum Staff

The Sullivan Museum and History Center is supported by a dedicated team committed to preserving, interpreting, and sharing Norwich's legacy.

Meet the staff who help bring exhibits like this one to life:

Stephanie Skenyon
Director, Sullivan Museum and History Center

Email
smhc@norwich.edu

Phone
1 (802) 485-2183