Paint Made Flesh Exhibition at Phillips Collection Explores Postwar Painting's Corporeal Obsessions

From June 20 to September 13, 2009, the Phillips Collection in Washington DC showcased Paint Made Flesh, an exhibition curated by Marc W. Scala of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. This display examined the connection between paint and the human form in the postwar era, drawing inspiration from Willem de Kooning's perspective on oil painting. Featured artworks included late pieces by Picasso, American Abstract Expressionism, German Neo-Expressionism, and contemporary creators such as John Currin and Lisa Yuskavage. Notable highlights were de Kooning's "Woman," along with works by Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, and Cecily Brown. This exhibition was part of a wider trend of flesh-themed shows in 2009 and originated at the Frist Center.