Celebrating the remarkable collection of drawings recently donated to the Walker by longtime patrons Miriam and Erwin Kelen, this exhibition explores the expressive potential of the human body. Richly varied in theme and style, the works on paper span more than a century of artistic experimentation. Featuring portraiture, social satire, erotica, and fantasy in mediums ranging from crayon, ink, and graphite to watercolor, pastel, and collage, the Kelens’ works are joined by a select group of related drawings and sculpture from the Walker’s current holdings. As a whole, The Expressionist Figure is not only a display of virtuoso artworks but also a testament to the pleasure of building a collection and the rewards of sharing it.
Among the artists in the exhibition are Max Beckmann, Louise Bourgeois, Chuck Close, Willem de Kooning, Edgar Degas, Jim Denomie, Otto Dix, Marlene Dumas, Arshile Gorky, George Grosz, David Hockney, Jasper Johns, William Kentridge, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Paul Klee, Gustav Klimt, René Magritte, Henri Matisse, Kerry James Marshall, Joan Miró, Claes Oldenburg, Pablo Picasso, Rowan Pope, Egon Schiele, Kara Walker and Andy Warhol.
The Expressionist Figure: The Miriam and Erwin Kelen Collection of Drawings is on view November 17, 2019 through April 19, 2020.
Curators: Joan Rothfuss, guest curator, Visual Arts