Oct 25, 2025–Feb 8, 2026
MoMA
Helen Frankenthaler once described her monumental painting Chairman of the Board (1971) as “about a grand sweep,” a phrase that resonates both with her method and the expansive trajectory of her artistic career. This exhibition presents a compelling overview of Frankenthaler’s groundbreaking contributions and evolving innovations within the Abstract Expressionist milieu of mid-20th century New York, illuminating her confident embrace of scale, color, and form.
Emerging in the 1950s, Frankenthaler invented a pioneering technique by pouring diluted oil paint onto raw canvas, allowing pigments to seep into the fabric, creating ethereal, fluid compositions. Transitioning to acrylic paints in the early 1960s, she harnessed sharper edges and defined shapes, expanding her visual vocabulary. Her works often evoke geographic imagery, referring to shapes as “districts” or “territories,” suggesting an intimate relationship between painting and landscape.
By the late 1980s, Frankenthaler’s palette and forms carried richer emotional undertones, with works like Toward Dark (1988) showcasing moodier, more resonant atmospheres. This painting is a highlight making its debut at MoMA through a recent acquisition, exemplifying her continual evolution decades into her career.
Frankenthaler’s artistic journey reflects a fearless commitment to experimentation and personal expression. As she poignantly stated, “I’ve explored a variety of directions and themes over the years, but I think in all my painting you can see the signature of one artist, the work of one wrist.” The exhibition offers audiences a panoramic view of her enduring legacy and the remarkable breadth of her vision.
Discover more about Helen Frankenthaler’s captivating journey and the exhibition details at MoMA’s official page: Helen Frankenthaler: A Grand Sweep.
