Frankenthaler and Motherwell's Artistic Dialogue Explored in Mnuchin Gallery Exhibition

Mnuchin Gallery in New York City presented an exhibition from October 30 to December 14, 2019, focusing on Helen Frankenthaler and Robert Motherwell's artistic relationship during their marriage. The show featured works from 1958 onward, highlighting how their cohabitation and travels to France, Spain, and England fostered overlapping sensibilities. Motherwell's Diary of a Painter (1958) and Frankenthaler's Courtyard of El Greco's House (1959) displayed abstract forms referencing Spanish imagery, such as a matador's hat and a gateway. Collages like Frankenthaler's Bingo (1962) and Motherwell's Hein, Ma Vie? (1958) offered autobiographical glimpses into their life together. Frankenthaler's Happy New 1966 (1965) served as a jubilant greeting card to Motherwell. Karen Wilkin, who was close to Frankenthaler, contributed to the exhibition's publication, noting their distinct color sensibilities: Frankenthaler explored intense hues, while Motherwell favored limited tonal variations. Wilkin also cited Kim Uchiyama's observation that both artists shared a belief in art revealing the unseen and using touch and color emotionally. The late curator E. A. Carmean Jr. added personal reminiscences, recalling a moment when the divorced couple viewed David Smith's sculptures together at the National Gallery of Art. The exhibition underscored how their competitive collaboration spurred artistic innovation, with Frankenthaler later reflecting fondly on their early years.