Featuring more than eight hundred works of sculpture by 168 contemporary American artists, Exhibition of Contemporary American Sculpture was the most comprehensive exhibition of its kind at the time. The included artworks extended beyond the museum’s campus onto the grounds of Delaware Park and Elmwood Avenue.

In addition to its size and scope—the exhibition included medals, plaques; small and large sculpture in bronze, marble, plaster, precious metals, and other materials; wood and ivory carving, portraits; allegorical statues; and both decorative and monumental sculpture—the exhibition’s other major distinguishing factor was its dedication to living artists. The only deceased sculptors included were Karl Bitter (American, 1867–1915), who had originally proposed the exhibition as president of the National Sculpture Society before dying suddenly, and a couple others who had passed away only after planning for the exhibition had begun.