Susan Rothenberg's Drawing Retrospective at Sperone Westwater Explores Tension Between Abstraction and Representation

The exhibition "Susan Rothenberg, Drawings 1974-2004" was displayed at Sperone Westwater in New York until 18 December 2004. It highlighted Rothenberg's artistic journey over thirty years, illustrating a dynamic interplay between exploration and structure. Her early 1970s horse drawings merge abstraction with naturalism, including a 1974 piece reminiscent of Theo Van Doesburg. The 1980s brought forth grotesque human forms, while her late 1980s works, inspired by her dance background, showcased movement. The drawings from the 1990s further amplified this tension, featuring one that captures a yoga pose. Robert Storr described her gestures as explorative, connecting her to Abstract Expressionists. Rothenberg's style shares similarities with Cy Twombly, emphasizing texture and surface. This retrospective was first published in the New York Sun on 25 November 2004.