Guggenheim Bilbao's 'Abstract Expressionism' Challenges Homogeneity Myth
The Guggenheim Bilbao is showcasing 'Abstract Expressionism,' curated by Lucía Agirre, David Anfam, and Edith Devaney, until June 6, 2017. This exhibition emphasizes the variety within the movement, with specific spaces dedicated to artists such as Rothko, Pollock, Still, and Kline. Co-organized with the Royal Academy of Arts, it presents pieces from the 1930s through the 1960s, including Pollock's mural from 1943. The exhibition also offers historical insights into post-Great Depression America and the influences of Picasso and Rivera. Additionally, it features Rothko's 'façades' and David Smith's sculptures, including 'Cage Star,' along with nine works by Clyfford Still on loan from the Clyfford Still Museum. Notably, the opening day lacked a queue, highlighting Bilbao's marginal role in the art world.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Abstract Expressionism' at Guggenheim Bilbao runs until June 6, 2017.
- Curated by Lucía Agirre, David Anfam, and Edith Devaney.
- Co-organized with the Royal Academy of Arts, which hosted the first leg.
- Aims to debunk the myth of Abstract Expressionism as a homogeneous movement.
- Features monographic rooms for Rothko, Pollock, Still, Kline, and others.
- Includes Pollock's 1943 mural for Peggy Guggenheim.
- Nine works by Clyfford Still on loan from the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver.
- Small section on abstract photography included but deemed less impactful.
Entities
Artists
- Philip Guston
- Jackson Pollock
- Mark Rothko
- Clyfford Still
- Franz Kline
- Willem de Kooning
- Arshile Gorky
- Barnett Newman
- Robert Motherwell
- David Smith
- Sam Francis
- Diego Rivera
- Pablo Picasso
- Peggy Guggenheim
Institutions
- Guggenheim Bilbao
- Royal Academy of Arts
- Clyfford Still Museum
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Sheldon Museum of Art
- University of Nebraska, Lincoln
- The Pollock-Krasner Foundation
- VEGAP
- The Willem de Kooning Foundation
- Artribune
Locations
- Bilbao
- Spain
- New York
- United States
- Denver
- Paris
- Milan
- London
- West Coast
- Mexico