Calling All Mid-Century Art Lovers

The de Young Museum of Fine Art in San Francisco currently has a fabulous exhibition of Modern art on display that I think the art lovers among you will want to see.  Titled Modernism from the National Gallery of Art: The Robert & Jane Meyerhoff Collection, the exhibit is a collection of 46 paintings and sculptures by prominent post-WWII artists.  The artwork, on loan from the National Gallery of Art, provides a comprehensive overview of Modern and Contemporary art spanning the last half of the 20^th Century.

To me, the highlight of the exhibit is Barnett Newman’s The Stations of the Cross.  Created over the course of eight years (1958-66), this series of 15 abstract paintings uses a palette of black and white on raw canvas – and is considered to be Newman’s finest work.  I can't disagree.  It is amazing how much impact such restrained use of color can have.

Modernism from the National Gallery of Art: The Robert & Jane Meyerhoff Collection also includes the more colorful work that many of us associate with Mid-Century “pop art” and features pieces by modernist heavyweights including Hans Hofmann, Mark Rothko, Frank Stella, Philip Guston, James Rosenquist, and Roy Lichtenstein.

During July, the de Young Museum and the Contemporary Jewish Museum are offering a special deal: one full price adult ticket to either Modernism from the National Gallery of Art at the de Young or Designing Home: Jews and Midcentury Modernism at the CJM will get you free admission to the other.

Modernism from the National Gallery of Art: The Robert & Jane Meyerhoff Collection will run at the de Young through October 12, 2014.