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This is the first major museum exhibition devoted to the full scope of the career of Willem de Kooning, widely considered to be among the most important and prolific artists of the 20th century. The exhibition, which will only be seen at MoMA, presents an unparalleled opportunity to study the artist’s development over nearly seven decades, beginning with his early academic works, made in Holland before he moved to the United States in 1926, and concluding with his final, sparely abstract paintings of the late 1980s. Bringing together nearly 200 works from public and private collections, the exhibition will occupy the Museum’s entire sixth-floor gallery space, totaling approximately 17,000 square feet.
Representing nearly every type of work de Kooning made, in both technique and subject matter, this retrospective includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints. Among these are the artist’s most famous, landmark paintings—among them Pink Angels (1945), Excavation (1950), and the celebrated third Woman series (1950–53)—plus in-depth presentations of all his most important series, ranging from his figurative paintings of the early 1940s to the breakthrough black-and-white compositions of 1948–49, and from the urban abstractions of the mid 1950s to the artist’s return to figuration in the 1960s, and the large gestural abstractions of the following decade. Also included is de Kooning’s famous yet largely unseen theatrical backdrop, the 17-foot-square Labyrinth (1946).
Representing nearly every type of work de Kooning made, in both technique and subject matter, this retrospective includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints. Among these are the artist’s most famous, landmark paintings—among them Pink Angels (1945), Excavation (1950), and the celebrated third Woman series (1950–53)—plus in-depth presentations of all his most important series, ranging from his figurative paintings of the early 1940s to the breakthrough black-and-white compositions of 1948–49, and from the urban abstractions of the mid 1950s to the artist’s return to figuration in the 1960s, and the large gestural abstractions of the following decade. Also included is de Kooning’s famous yet largely unseen theatrical backdrop, the 17-foot-square Labyrinth (1946).
Organized by John Elderfield, Chief Curator Emeritus of Painting and Sculpture.
This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis.
Major support is provided by the Henry Luce Foundation.
Additional generous funding is provided by Anne and Kenneth Griffin, Sid R. Bass, Steven A. and Alexandra M. Cohen Foundation, Inc., Donald L. Bryant, Jr., The Dubin Family, Glenstone, Robert and Arlene Kogod, Robert B. Menschel, Robert E. Meyerhoff and Rheda Becker, Jerry I. Speyer and Katherine G. Farley, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, Gary and Karen Winnick, and Peter G. Peterson.
This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.
Funding for the accompanying publication is provided by The International Council of The Museum of Modern Art and an anonymous donor.
Special thanks to The Willem de Kooning Foundation, New York.
This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis.
Major support is provided by the Henry Luce Foundation.
Additional generous funding is provided by Anne and Kenneth Griffin, Sid R. Bass, Steven A. and Alexandra M. Cohen Foundation, Inc., Donald L. Bryant, Jr., The Dubin Family, Glenstone, Robert and Arlene Kogod, Robert B. Menschel, Robert E. Meyerhoff and Rheda Becker, Jerry I. Speyer and Katherine G. Farley, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, Gary and Karen Winnick, and Peter G. Peterson.
This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.
Funding for the accompanying publication is provided by The International Council of The Museum of Modern Art and an anonymous donor.
Special thanks to The Willem de Kooning Foundation, New York.
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PopRally
MoMA by Night
Join PopRally for an intimate evening of after-hours gallery talks and exhibition viewing of de Kooning: A Retrospective, with a cocktail reception.
This is the first major museum exhibition devoted to the full scope of the career of Willem de Kooning, widely considered to be among the most important and prolific artists of the 20th century. The exhibition, which will be seen exclusively at MoMA, presents an unparalleled opportunity to study the artist’s development over nearly seven decades. Bringing together nearly 200 works (including paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints) from public and private collections, the exhibition occupies the Museum’s entire sixth-floor gallery space.
Guided tours of the exhibition will begin promptly at 7:00, 7:15, 7:30, 8:00, 8:15, 8:30, and 9:00 p.m. Please select your preferred tour when you purchase your ticket. Space on each tour is limited. You may also purchase a viewing-only ticket, which allows you to see the exhibition without a gallery talk.
Please select your preferred tour:
7:00
7:15
7:30
8:00
8:15
8:30
9:00
Viewing Only
Admission includes exhibition viewing and cocktail reception.
PopRally is supported in part by The Friends of Education of The Museum of Modern Art. Special thanks to Sud de France Wines. Beer for this event has been provided by Brooklyn Brewery.
Panel Discussions & Symposia
De Kooning Now
De Kooning Now is a daylong series of talks and discussions in which artists, critics, and scholars explore Willem de Kooning’s work, examining its processes, themes, and influences; its place in Abstract Expressionism; and its significance for the art of our time. Participants include artists Cecily Brown, Tom Ferrara, William Tucker, Josh Smith, and Terry Winters; art historians William Agee, Lynne Cooke, John Elderfield, Pepe Karmel, David Rosand, Richard Shiff, Katy Siegel, and Ann Temkin; artist, writer, and independent curator Phong Bui; art critic Peter Schjeldahl; and MoMA Chief Conservator Jim Coddington.
Program Schedule
10:00–10:15
Introduction, John Elderfield
10:15–12:00
de Kooning & the New York School
William Agee: “de Kooning in the 1930s: Local Sources”
Pepe Karmel: "Abstraction as Abstraction: Willem de Kooning, 1948–1951"
Richard Shiff: “de Kooning without Interpretation”
Katy Siegel: “Something and Nothing”
Ann Temkin, moderator
12:00–1:00
Lunch
1:00-3:00
de Kooning & the Process of Painting
David Rosand: “Flesh and the Invention of Oil Painting”
Jim Coddington: "Processing Process"
Lynne Cooke: “Afterword: Re-thinking De Kooning’s Late Work”
Tom Ferrara: “Works in Progress”
Peter Schjeldahl, moderator
3:00–3:30
Break
3:30–5:30
Artists’ Panel
Cecily Brown
Terry Winters
William Tucker
Josh Smith
Phong Bui, moderator
Willem de Kooning. Pink Angels. c. 1945. Oil and charcoal on canvas, 52 x 40" (132.1 x 101.6 cm). Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation, Los Angeles. © 2011 The Willem de Kooning Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Related Publication
de Kooning: A Retrospective
John Elderfield
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Early Viewing Hours for Members
Wednesdays–Mondays, September 14–November 7, 9:30–10:30 a.m.
Members enjoy special early viewing hours of de Kooning: A Retrospective before the Museum opens to the public. Early Viewing Hours are open to all members and their guests. Present your membership card and/or member guest admission ticket at the Museum entrance.
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