Bill Beckley's Early Works 1968-1978 at Albertz Benda Gallery

From September 10 to October 3, 2015, the Albertz Benda gallery in New York hosted "The Accidental Poet: Bill Beckley—1968-1978," highlighting the artist's initial ten years of work beginning in 1968. Beckley was linked to the Soho Gallery at 112 Greene Street, where he collaborated with notable figures such as Louise Bourgeois and Gordon Matta-Clark. The exhibition displayed early pieces that merged text with imagery, including Myself as Washington (1969) and Cake Story (1973). Unlike Pop and Minimalist artists, Beckley’s work showcased a poetic quality. The title referred to an event in 1969 when he misplaced his camera while painting a line across the Delaware River. By the end of this decade, he shifted away from text but eventually revisited writing.