Julia Wachtel, Membership, 1984. Oil on canvas, overall: 65 7/8 × 80 15/16in. (167.3 × 205.6 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from the Painting and Sculpture Committee 2016.114. © Julia Wachtel

Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s
Jan 27–May 14, 2017

Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s presents a focused look at painting from this decade with works drawn entirely from the Museum’s collection. 

In the 1980s, painting recaptured the imagination of the contemporary art world against a backdrop of expansive change. An unprecedented number of galleries appeared on the scene, particularly in downtown New York. Groundbreaking exhibitions—that blurred distinctions between high and low art—were presented at alternative and artist-run spaces. New mediums, including video and installation art, were on the rise. Yet despite the growing popularity of photography and video, many artists actively embraced painting, freely exploring its bold physicality and unique capacity for expression and innovation.

The exhibition includes work by artists often identified with this explosive period—Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sherrie Levine, David Salle, and Julian Schnabel—as well as by several lesser-known painters. These artists explored the traditions of figuration and history painting, and offered new interpretations of abstraction. Many addressed fundamental questions about artmaking in their work, while others took on political issues including AIDS, feminism, gentrification, and war. In the face of a media-saturated environment, artists in the 1980s recommitted to painting. Far from dead, painting came to represent an important intersection between new ways of seeing and a seemingly traditional way of making art. 

Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s is organized by Jane Panetta, associate curator, with Melinda Lang, curatorial assistant.

Artworks

Numbers and letters scribbled on wall art

Jean-Michel Basquiat, “LNAPRK”, 1982. Acrylic, oil, oil stick, and marker on found paper on canvas and wood, with rope, 72 1/4 × 66 5/16 in. (183.5 × 168.4 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; gift of June and Paul Schorr in honor of the 60th Anniversary of the Whitney Museum of American Art 91.83. © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat / ADAGP, Paris / ARS, New York

Numbers and letters scribbled on wall art
Painting of bright stars falling from the sky.

Ross Bleckner (b. 1949), Count No Count, 1989. Oil and wax on canvas, 108 × 72 1/8 in. (274.3 × 183.2 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from the Painting and Sculpture Committee 89.28 © Ross Bleckner; courtesy Mary Boone Gallery, New York

Painting of bright stars falling from the sky.
Front half of a severed sports car.

Peter Cain (1959–1997), Z, 1989. Oil on canvas. 58 1/4 × 70 1/8 in. (148 × 178.1 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from the Painting and Sculpture Committee 92.29 © Peter Cain; courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery, N.Y.

Front half of a severed sports car.
A painting of three women in a cemetery.

Robert Colescott, The Three Graces: Art, Sex and Death, 1981. Acrylic on canvas, Overall: 84 × 72in. (213.4 × 182.9 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Gift of Raymond J. Learsy 91.59.1 With permission of the Estate of Robert Colescott © 2017 Estate of Robert Colescott  / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

A painting of three women in a cemetery.
Wavy lines of turquoise and red.

Moira Dryer (1957–1992, Portrait of a Fingerprint, 1988. Casein on plywood, 48 1/8 × 61 1/4 × 4 in. (122.2 × 155.6 × 10.2 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; gift of Barbara and Eugene Schwartz 94.58 © Estate of Moira Dryer

Wavy lines of turquoise and red.
A painting depicting people having fun at the beach on the left and refugees at the beach on the right.

Eric Fischl, A Visit To / A Visit From / The Island, 1983. Oil on canvas, 84 × 168in. (213.4 × 426.7 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Purchase, with funds from the Louis and Bessie Adler Foundation, Inc., Seymour M. Klein, President 83.17a b

A painting depicting people having fun at the beach on the left and refugees at the beach on the right.
A painting with various figures posing.

David Salle, Sextant in Dogtown, 1987. Oil and acrylic on canvas, 96 3/16 × 126 1/4 in. (244.3 × 320.7 cm). 99 1/8 × 129 3/8 in. (251.8 × 328.6 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Purchase, with funds from the Painting and Sculpture Committee 88.8a-e Art © David Salle, Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY

A painting with various figures posing.
A painting of cartoonish figures in an abstract cloudy background.

Kenny Scharf, When the Worlds Collide, 1984. Oil and acrylic spray paint on canvas, 122 5/16 × 209 5/16 in. (310.7 × 531.7 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Purchase, with funds from Edward R. Downe, Jr. and Eric Fischl 84.44 © 2017 Kenny Scharf/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

A painting of cartoonish figures in an abstract cloudy background.
Bodies in various states with an abstract background behind.

Julian Schnabel (b. 1951), Hope, 1982. Oil and velvet on velvet. 110 × 158 in. (279.4 × 401.3 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from an anonymous donor 82.13 © 2016 Julian Schnabel / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Bodies in various states with an abstract background behind.
A painting of two sculptures and a cartoonish figure holding a flower.

Julia Wachtel, Membership, 1984. Oil on canvas, 66 x 81 in. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Purchase, with funds from the Painting and Sculpture Committee 2016.114 114 © Julia Wachtel; courtesy the artist and Elizabeth Dee New York. © Julia Wachtel

A painting of two sculptures and a cartoonish figure holding a flower.
Abstract shapes in shades of brown and blue strewn on a canvas.

Terry Winters (b. 1949), Good Government, 1984. Oil on linen, 101 1/4 × 136 1/4 in. (257.2 × 346.1 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from The Mnuchin Foundation and the Painting and Sculpture Committee 85.15 © Terry Winters

Abstract shapes in shades of brown and blue strewn on a canvas.

Artists

Carlos Alfonzo
Ida Applebroog
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Ross Bleckner
Jonathan Borofsky
Kathe Burkhart
Peter Cain
Louisa Chase
Robert Colescott
George Condo
Jane Dickson
Moira Dryer
Carroll Dunham
Eric Fischl
Leon Golub
Peter Halley
Keith Haring
Mary Heilmann
Michael Hurson
Rex Lau
Sherrie Levine
Glenn Ligon
Andrew Masullo
Elizabeth Murray
Joyce Pensato
Walter Robinson
Susan Rothenberg
Nellie Mae Rowe
David Salle
Kenny Scharf
Julian Schnabel
Nancy Spero
Tim Rollins and K.O.S.
Meyer Vaisman
Julia Wachtel
Terry Winters
David Wojnarowicz
Martin Wong
Christopher Wool
Purvis Young

Videos

Events

Whitney Stories
Fast Forward: Joyce Pensato In The Studio

From her studio in Brooklyn, Joyce Pensato discusses the influences behind her paintings and how the 1980s were a turning point for her career.

Read more

A painting of two sculptures and a cartoonish figure holding a flower.

Audio Guides

Hear directly from artists and curators on selected works from the exhibition.

Listen now

Installation Photography

Large Scharf painting on wall.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Kenny Scharf, When Worlds Collide, 1984. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Large Scharf painting on wall.
Large Scharf painting on wall with Haring background.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Left to Right: Kenny Scharf, When Worlds Collide, 1984; Julia Watchel, Membership, 1984. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Large Scharf painting on wall with Haring background.
An installation view of artworks in a gallery.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Left to right: Jean Michel Basquiat, LNAPRK, 1982; Keith Haring, Untitled, 1983-1984. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

An installation view of artworks in a gallery.
Entrance to the exhibition.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Left to right: Jean Michel Basquiat, LNAPRK, 1982; Keith Haring, Untitled, 1983-1984. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Entrance to the exhibition.
Maroon painting on a wall.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). George Condo, Brown Expanding Drawing Painting, 1991. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Maroon painting on a wall.
Scharf painting on a wall with Haring background.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Left to Right: Julia Watchel, Membership, 1984; Meyer Vaisman, Souvenir, 1987; Kathe Burkhart, Prick: from the Liz Taylor Series (Suddenly Last Summer), 1987. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Scharf painting on a wall with Haring background.
Entrance to exhibition.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Entrance to exhibition.
Paintings on the wall of exhibition.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Left to Right: Julia Watchel, Membership, 1984; Christopher Wool, Untitled, 1990 and Peter Cain, Z, 1989. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Paintings on the wall of exhibition.
Multiple paintings hanging on wall.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Multiple paintings hanging on wall.
Paintings on adjacent walls.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Paintings on adjacent walls.
An installation view of artworks in a gallery.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Left to Right: Peter Cain, Z, 1989 and Christopher Wool, Untitled, 1990. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

An installation view of artworks in a gallery.
About 15 paintings hang on one of the walls of the exhibition.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Photograph by Ron Amstutz

About 15 paintings hang on one of the walls of the exhibition.
Paintings hanging on the gallery wall.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Paintings hanging on the gallery wall.
Three paintings hang on adjacent walls.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Left to Right: Meyer Vaisman, Souvenir, 1987; Kathe Burkhart, Prick: from the Liz Taylor Series (Suddenly Last Summer), 1987; Walter Robinson, Baron Sinister, 1986. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Three paintings hang on adjacent walls.
Two paintings hanging on opposite.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Left to Right: Terry Winters, Good Government, 1984; Ross Bleckner, Count No Count, 1989. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Two paintings hanging on opposite.
Paintings hanging on opposite walls.

Installation view of Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Left to Right: Ross Bleckner, Count No Count, 1989; Moira Dryer, Portrait of a Fingerprint, 1988 and Mary Heilmann, Big Bill, 1987. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Paintings hanging on opposite walls.
Three paintings on white wall in gallery with bench and front.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Left to Right: Moira Dryer, Portrait of a Fingerprint, 1988; Mary Heilmann, Big Bill, 1987 and Martin Wong, Closed, 1984-1985. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Three paintings on white wall in gallery with bench and front.
Two paintings hanging side by side.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Left to Right: Susan Rothenberg, Turning Fork, 1980; Carlos Alfonzo, Told, 1990. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Two paintings hanging side by side.
Paintings hang on adjacent gallery walls.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Left to Right: Susan Rothenberg, Turning Fork, 1980; Carlos Alfonzo, Told, 1990; Terry Winters, Good Government, 1984. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Paintings hang on adjacent gallery walls.
Bench in room with paintings on two walls.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Left to Right: Julian Schnabel, Hope, 1982; Leon Golub, White Squad I, 1982. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Bench in room with paintings on two walls.
Large painting by Leon Golub of police oficers.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Leon Golub, White Squad I, 1982. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Large painting by Leon Golub of police oficers.
Two colorful paintings hanging side by side.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Left to Right: Robert Colescott, The Three Graces: Art, Sex and Death, 1981; Louisa Chase, Limb, 1981. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Two colorful paintings hanging side by side.
Eric Fischl's large painting hanging on the wall.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Eric Fischl, A Visit To / A Visit From / The Island, 1983. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Eric Fischl's large painting hanging on the wall.
Skeleton type figures in a large painting hang on a gallery wall.

Installation view of Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 27, 2017-May 14, 2017). Julian Schnabel, Hope, 1982. Photograph by Ron Amstutz

Skeleton type figures in a large painting hang on a gallery wall.
Whitney exhibition catalogs in a stack.

Shop the Exhibition

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In the News

"The Whitney Revisits the '80s, a Decade of Macho and Money."
—The New York Times

“The powerful excitement of the decade has been languishing in a blind spot of art history. An exhibit at the Whitney comes to the rescue.”
—The New Yorker

"An absorbing group show that brings together about 40 paintings by as many artists."
—WNYC


“A show of 1980s American painting at the Whitney Museum includes serious and playful meditations on sexuality, AIDS, wealth, and politics.”
—The Daily Beast

"Painting From the 1980s, When Brash Met Flash"
—The New York Times

“The Whitney Exhibition Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s Reinforces the Purpose of Painting”
—Forbes

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A 30-second online art project:
American Artist, Looted

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