David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy
Oct 6, 2011–Jan 8, 2012
David Smith (1906–1965), Zig III, 1961 (detail). Painted steel, 93 x 124 x 61 inches (236.2 x 315.0 x 154.9 cm). The Estate of David Smith, New York; courtesy Gagosian Gallery. © The Estate of David Smith/VAGA, New York. Photograph by Jerry L. Thompson
A fresh look at the work of the great American sculptor David Smith (1906–1965), Cubes and Anarchy offers new insights into the artist’s career-long involvement with geometric forms. Traditionally, the simplified geometry of Smith's monumental Cubi and Zig sculptures of the 1960s has been seen as a departure from the Surrealist and Expressionistic tendencies of his earlier work. Cubes and Anarchy reveals the artist’s iconic late masterpieces to be continuations of his long-standing explanation of geometric abstraction. The show includes over fifty sculptures, drawings, and paintings, as well as rarely-seen sketchbooks and photographs. Following its presentation at the Whitney, David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy will travel to the Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, Ohio.
This exhibition was organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Major support for the Whitney’s presentation is provided by the National Committee of the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Artworks
David Smith, 17 h’s, 1950. Painted steel, 44 1/2 × 29 × 12 1/2 inches (113 × 73.7 × 31.8 cm). The Estate of David Smith. © The Estate of David Smith/VAGA, New York. Photograph by David Heald; courtesy The Estate of David Smith
David Smith (1906–1965), Tanktotem IX, 1960. Painted steel, 90 × 33 × 24 1/8 inches (214.6 × 94 × 35.9 cm). Storm King Art Center, Mountainville, New York, gift of the Ralph E. Ogden Foundation, Inc. © The Estate of David Smith/VAGA, New York. Photograph by David Heald; courtesy The Estate of David Smith
David Smith, Lectern Sentinel, 1961. Stainless steel, 101 3/4 × 33 × 20 1/2 inches (258.5 × 83.8 × 52.1 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from the Friends of the Whitney Museum of American Art 62.15. © The Estate of David Smith/VAGA, New York
David Smith, Blue Construction, 1938. Sheet steel with baked-enamel finish, 36 1/4 x 28 1/2 x 30 in. (92.1 x 72.4 x 76.2 cm). The Estate of David Smith; courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington. © The Estate of David Smith/Licensed by VAGA, New York. Photograph courtesy The Estate of David Smith
David Smith, Cubi I, 1963. Stainless steel, 124 × 34 1/2 × 33 1/2 in. (315 × 87.6 × 85.1 cm). Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase, Special Purchase Fund. © The Estate of David Smith/Licensed by VAGA, New York. Photograph © Detroit Institute of Arts/licensed by The Bridgeman Art Library
David Smith, The Hero, 1951–1952. Painted steel, 73 3/4 × 25 1/2 × 11 3/4 in. (187.2 × 64.8 × 29.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Dick S. Ramsay Fund. © The Estate of David Smith/VAGA, New York. Photograph courtesy Brooklyn Museum of Art
Artist
Audio guides
David Smith (1906–1965), Zig III, 1961 (detail). Painted steel, 93 x 124 x 61 inches (236.2 x 315.0 x 154.9 cm). The Estate of David Smith, New York; courtesy Gagosian Gallery. © The Estate of David Smith/VAGA, New York. Photograph by Jerry L. Thompson
Art historian and David Smith biographer Michael Brenson, art historian Sarah Hamill, sculptor Charles Ray, and Peter Stevens, director of the David Smith Estate discuss a selection of works from the exhibition David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy. The audio guide also includes commentary by sculptor David Smith.
Installation Photography
Installation view of David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 6, 2011–January 8, 2012). © The Estate of David Smith/Licensed by VAGA, New York, N.Y. Photography by Jerry L. Thompson
Installation view of David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 6, 2011–January 8, 2012). © The Estate of David Smith/Licensed by VAGA, New York, N.Y. Photography by Jerry L. Thompson
Installation view of David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 6, 2011–January 8, 2012). © The Estate of David Smith/Licensed by VAGA, New York, N.Y. Photography by Jerry L. Thompson
Installation view of David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 6, 2011–January 8, 2012). © The Estate of David Smith/Licensed by VAGA, New York, N.Y. Photography by Jerry L. Thompson
Installation view of David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 6, 2011–January 8, 2012). © The Estate of David Smith/Licensed by VAGA, New York, N.Y. Photography by Jerry L. Thompson
Installation view of David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 6, 2011–January 8, 2012). © The Estate of David Smith/Licensed by VAGA, New York, N.Y. Photography by Jerry L. Thompson
Installation view of David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 6, 2011–January 8, 2012). © The Estate of David Smith/Licensed by VAGA, New York, N.Y. Photography by Jerry L. Thompson
Installation view of David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 6, 2011–January 8, 2012). © The Estate of David Smith/Licensed by VAGA, New York, N.Y. Photography by Jerry L. Thompson
Installation view of David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 6, 2011–January 8, 2012). © The Estate of David Smith/Licensed by VAGA, New York, N.Y. Photography by Jerry L. Thompson
Installation view of David Smith: Cubes and Anarchy (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 6, 2011–January 8, 2012). © The Estate of David Smith/Licensed by VAGA, New York, N.Y. Photography by Jerry L. Thompson
Explore works from this exhibition
in the Whitney's collection
View 3 works
In the News
"A delight...helps to flesh out our sense of his mastery and originality."
—The Wall Street Journal
"Smith kept evolving, and his work got better and better..."
—Financial Times
Cubes and Anarchy is listed as one of the most anticipated exhibitions of the fall season.
—New York