Frank Stella's 1958 Exhibition at Harvard's Sackler Museum Reveals Transition from Colorful Flags to Black Paintings
The Arthur M. Sackler Museum at Harvard University Art Museums hosted the exhibition "Frank Stella 1958" from February 4 to May 7, 2006. This showcase highlighted Stella's artistic journey in 1958, beginning with his Coney Island series, which featured Grape Island, and progressed to monochromatic pieces like Astoria and Blue Horizon. Included were the black paintings Delta and Morro Castle, referred to as "final solution paintings." Stella's assertion, "What you see is what you see," became a mantra for Minimalism, while the exhibition hinted at links to Samuel Beckett's aesthetic. Critics observed a transition in Stella's focus towards profound artistic issues in the aftermath of the Holocaust. The exhibition was scheduled to move to the Menil Collection and Wexner Center for Arts.
Key facts
- Frank Stella's exhibition "Frank Stella 1958" was held at the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Harvard University Art Museums.
- The exhibition ran from February 4 to May 7, 2006.
- It featured Stella's transition from colorful flag paintings like Grape Island to monochromatic works such as Astoria and Blue Horizon.
- The show included black paintings Delta and Morro Castle, which Stella called his "final solution paintings."
- Stella's quote "What you see is what you see" became a Minimalist rallying cry.
- The exhibition drew comparisons between Stella's work and Samuel Beckett's aesthetic, with Stella acknowledging Beckett's influence.
- The exhibition was scheduled to travel to the Menil Collection and the Wexner Center for Arts.
- Critics interpreted Stella's 1958 shift as an act of purification, moving away from trivial elements toward serious artistic problems.
Entities
Artists
- Frank Stella
- Jasper Johns
- Sean Scully
- Daniel Buren
- Donald Judd
- Samuel Beckett
- Henri Matisse
- Matthew Arnold
- Theodor Adorno
Institutions
- Arthur M. Sackler Museum
- Harvard University Art Museums
- Menil Collection
- Wexner Center for Arts
- artcritical
Locations
- Cambridge
- Massachusetts
- United States