A flat, geometric painting by Frank Stella.

Frank Stella (b. 1936), Harran II, 1967. Polymer and fluorescent polymer paint on canvas. 120 × 240 in. (304.8 × 609.6 cm). Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; gift, Mr. Irving Blum, 1982. © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

A flat, geometric painting by Frank Stella.

Frank Stella: A Retrospective
Oct 30, 2015–Feb 7, 2016

Frank Stella (b. 1936) is one of the most important living American artists. This retrospective is the most comprehensive presentation of Stella’s career to date, showcasing his prolific output from the mid-1950s to the present through approximately 100 works, including paintings, reliefs, maquettes, sculptures, and drawings. Co-organized by the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and the Whitney, this exhibition features Stella’s best-known works alongside rarely seen examples drawn from collections around the world. Accompanied by a scholarly publication, the exhibition fills the Whitney's entire fifth floor, an 18,000-square-foot gallery that is the Museum’s largest space for temporary exhibitions.

Frank Stella: A Retrospective is organized by Michael Auping, chief curator, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, in association with Adam D. Weinberg, Alice Pratt Brown Director, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, and with the assistance of Carrie Springer, assistant curator, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Frank Stella: A Retrospective is jointly organized by the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

In New York, the exhibition is sponsored by

Significant support is provided by

Major support is provided by The Brown Foundation, Inc., of Houston; Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation; Julia W. Dayton; Pamella and Daniel DeVos; Katherine Farley and Jerry Speyer; the Fisher Family; The Marc Haas Foundation, Inc.; the Henry Luce Foundation; Robert E. Meyerhoff and Rheda Becker; the National Committee of the Whitney Museum of American Art; and an anonymous donor.

Generous support is provided by The Broad Art Foundation, Peter and Betsy Currie, Theodor and Isabella Dalenson, Marcia Dunn and Jonathan Sobel, Louis G. Elson, Ann and Graham Gund, Marguerite Steed Hoffman, Barbara and Tom Israel, Martin Z. Margulies, Scott Mead, Kenneth & Marabeth Tyler, Melissa Vail and Norman Selby, the Bagley and Virginia Wright Foundation, and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Additional support is provided by Irma and Norman Braman; Audrey and David Mirvish; the National Endowment for the Arts; Emily Rauh Pulitzer; Paul J. Schupf Lifetime Trust, Gregory O. Koerner Trustee; and anonymous donors.

Significant endowment support is also provided by Lise and Michael Evans, Sueyun and Gene Locks, and the Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation.

The installation of Wooden Star I (2014) and Black Star (2014) on the fifth-floor outdoor gallery is made possible by Marianne Boesky Gallery and Dominique Lévy Gallery.

Artworks

Green, maroon and yellow lines in geometric shape.

Frank Stella (b. 1936), Empress of India, 1965. Metallic powder in polymer emulsion on canvas. 77 × 224 in. (195.6 × 569 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York; gift of S. I. Newhouse, Jr. © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. © The Museum of Modern Art/Licensed by SCALA / Art Resource, NY

Green, maroon and yellow lines in geometric shape.
An artwork with straight white lines on a black background.

Frank Stella, Die Fahne hoch!, 1959. Enamel on canvas, 121 5/8 x 72 13/16 in. (308.9 x 184.9 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene M. Schwartz and purchase with funds from the John I. H. Baur Purchase Fund, the Charles and Anita Blatt Fund, Peter M. Brant, B. H. Friedman, the Gilman Foundation, Inc., Susan Morse Hilles, The Lauder Foundation, Frances and Sydney Lewis, the Albert A. List Fund, Philip Morris Incorporated, Sandra Payson, Mr. and Mrs. Albrecht Saalfield, Mrs. Percy Uris, Warner Communications Inc., and the National Endowment for the Arts 75.22. © 2015 Frank Stella / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Digital Image © Whitney Museum

An artwork with straight white lines on a black background.
Bright yellow, orange and pink painting.

Frank Stella (b. 1936), Effingham II, 1966. Acrylic on canvas. 127 1/2 × 132 × 4 in. (323.9 × 335.3 × 10.2 cm). The Glass House, A Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Bright yellow, orange and pink painting.
Yellow and red lines in an interesting geometric pattern.

Frank Stella (b. 1936), Marrakech, 1964. Fluorescent alkyd on canvas. 77 × 77 × 2 7/8 in. (195.6 × 195.6 × 7.6 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Scull, 1971 (1971.5). © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Yellow and red lines in an interesting geometric pattern.
Paint on aluminum in many colors.

Frank Stella (b. 1936), Grajau I, 1975. Paint and laquer on aluminum. 82 × 132 in. (208.3 × 335.3 cm). The Glass House, A Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Paint on aluminum in many colors.
A flat, geometric painting by Frank Stella.

Frank Stella (b. 1936), Harran II, 1967. Polymer and fluorescent polymer paint on canvas. 120 × 240 in. (304.8 × 609.6 cm). Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; gift, Mr. Irving Blum, 1982 © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

A flat, geometric painting by Frank Stella.
Paint on lacquered glass and metal.

Frank Stella (b. 1936), Eskimo Curlew, 1976. Litho crayon, etching, lacquer, ink, glass, acrylic paint, and oilstick on aluminum. 8 ft. 2.75 in x 10 ft. 7 in. (2.5 × 3.2 m). Portland Art Museum, Portland, Ore.; museum purchase: funds provided by Mr. and Mrs. Howard Vollum. © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Paint on lacquered glass and metal.
Multiple colored lines making up shapes.

Frank Stella (b. 1936), Moultonville II, 1966. Fluorescent alkyd and epoxy paint on canvas, 124 × 86 × 4 in. (315 × 218.4 × 10.2 cm). Audrey and David Mirvish. © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photograph by Michael Cullen

Multiple colored lines making up shapes.
Twisted metal stands as a sculpture.

Frank Stella (b. 1936), Raft of the Medusa (Part I), 1990. Aluminum and steel. 167 × 163 × 159 in. (424.2 × 414 × 403.9 cm). The Glass House, A Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Twisted metal stands as a sculpture.
A golden star shape on a white background.

Frank Stella (b. 1936), Plant City, 1963. Zinc chromate on canvas. 8 ft. 6.5 in x 8 ft. 6.5 in (2.6 × 2.6 m). Philadelphia Museum of Art; gift of Agnes Gund in memory of Anne of Harnoncourt, 2008. © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

A golden star shape on a white background.
Shapes of multiple colors on a canvas.

Frank Stella (b. 1936), Chocorua IV, 1966. Fluorescent alkyd and epoxy paint on canvas, 120 × 128 × 4 in. (304.8 × 325.1 × 10.2 cm). Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH; purchased through the Miriam and Sidney Stoneman Acquisition Fund, a gift from Judson and Carol Bemis, Class of 1976, and gifts from the Lathrop Fellows, in honor of Brian P. Kennedy, Director of the Hood Museum of Art, 2005–2010. © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

Shapes of multiple colors on a canvas.
Geometric objects stacked on top of each other.

Frank Stella (b. 1936) , Gobba, zoppa e collotorto, 1985. Oil, urethane enamel, fluorescent alkyd, acrylic, and printing ink on etched magnesium and aluminum. 137 × 120 1/8 × 34 3/8 in. (348 × 305 × 87.5 cm). The Art Institute of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Frank G. Logan Purchase Prize Fund; Ada Turnbull Hertle Endowment 1986.93. © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

Geometric objects stacked on top of each other.
Shapes of many colors stand as a sculpture.

Frank Stella (b.1936), The Whiteness of the Whale (IRS-1, 2X), 1987. Paint on aluminum, 149 × 121 3/4 × 45 1/4 in. (375.5 × 309.2 × 114.9 cm). Private collection. © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Shapes of many colors stand as a sculpture.
Paintings of box shapes side by side.

Frank Stella (b.1936), Jasper’s Dilemma, 1962. Alkyd on canvas, 77 × 154 in. (195.6 × 391.2 cm). Collection of Irma and Norman Braman, Miami Beach. © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Paintings of box shapes side by side.
Tangled metal object sits against the wall.

Frank Stella (b. 1936), K.144, 2013. ABS RPT with stainless steel, 80 × 97 × 53 in. (203.2 × 246.4 × 134.6 cm). Collection Martin Z. Margulies. © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Tangled metal object sits against the wall.

Videos

Events

Whitney Stories

A flat, geometric painting by Frank Stella.

Audio Guides

This audio guide features a selection of Frank Stella's works in Frank Stella: A Retrospective with commentary by Stella himself, along with scholars, writers, artists, and curators.

Listen now

Installation Photography

A large painting covers an entire wall of an exhibition.

Installation view of Frank Stella: A Retrospective (October 30, 2015—February 7, 2016). © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photograph by Ronald Amstutz

A large painting covers an entire wall of an exhibition.
Three large abstract paintings line the walls of the exhibit.

Installation view of Frank Stella: A Retrospective (October 30, 2015—February 7, 2016). © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photograph by Ronald Amstutz

Three large abstract paintings line the walls of the exhibit.
Square paintings line the walls of the exhibition.

Installation view of Frank Stella: A Retrospective (October 30, 2015—February 7, 2016). © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photograph by Ronald Amstutz

Square paintings line the walls of the exhibition.
A view of the gallery with a bench in front of four paintings.

Installation view of Frank Stella: A Retrospective (October 30, 2015—February 7, 2016). © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photograph by Ronald Amstutz

A view of the gallery with a bench in front of four paintings.
Five colorful sculptures line the walls of the gallery.
Five colorful sculptures line the walls of the gallery.
Many paintings and sculptures line the walls of the exhibition.

Installation view of Frank Stella: A Retrospective (October 30, 2015—February 7, 2016). © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photograph by Ronald Amstutz

Many paintings and sculptures line the walls of the exhibition.
Metal sculptures hang and stand freely in a gallery space.

Installation view of Frank Stella: A Retrospective (October 30, 2015—February 7, 2016). © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photograph by Ronald Amstutz


Metal sculptures hang and stand freely in a gallery space.
Multiple metal sculptures hang on walls and stand freely with window to the right.

Installation view of Frank Stella: A Retrospective (October 30, 2015—February 7, 2016). © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photograph by Ronald Amstutz

Multiple metal sculptures hang on walls and stand freely with window to the right.
Windows look out on river in the gallery space.

Installation view of Frank Stella: A Retrospective (October 30, 2015—February 7, 2016). © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photograph by Ronald Amstutz

Windows look out on river in the gallery space.
Metal sculptures line the gallery space.

Installation view of Frank Stella: A Retrospective (October 30, 2015—February 7, 2016). © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photograph by Ronald Amstutz

Metal sculptures line the gallery space.
Whitney exhibition catalogs in a stack.

Shop the Exhibition

Visit the online shop to buy Whitney catalogues, exhibition-inspired gifts, and more.

Shop now

In the News

“Frank Stella is back. His grand, high-spirited, slightly overstuffed retrospective has taken over the fifth and largest exhibition floor of the new Whitney Museum of American Art, where it looks great. ”
—The New York Times

"Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Abstraction: Frank Stella Stuns at the Whitney"
—Artnews

"Frank Stella at the Whitney—from Impassive Abstraction to Riotous Baroque"
—The Guardian

"The Wide, Wacky World of Frank Stella's Titles"
—The Wall Street Journal

"Interstellar: Whitney Musuem toasts Frank Stella with a Retrospective"
—Wallpaper

"Frank Stella looks back on fifty-five years of making art"
—Time Out New York

"Mr. Stella has done more than any other living artist to carry abstract art, the house style of modernism, into the postmodern era."
—The New York Times

"Towards a Unified Theory of Frank Stella"
—New York Magazine

"American Master: Frank Stella"
—Departures Magazine

"No artist of his generation has been remotely as productive and creative as Frank Stella."
—Artforum

"One of the most important living U.S. artists"
—The Wall Street Journal

"Frank Stella Gets Candid About His Long Career"
—Artinfo

"A champion of pure abstraction...[Frank Stella] is a survivor from a bygone era when artists conceived their mission as a heroic and hermetic pursuit."
—The Economist

In the Whitney’s Collection
84 works

View all

Frank Stella
kandampat
2002

Frank Stella
Coxuria
1997

Frank Stella
The Fountain
1992

Frank Stella
The Fossil Whale (Dome)
1992

Frank Stella
Pergusa Three
1983

Frank Stella
Pergusa Three
1983

View all

Sunrise

Sunset

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

Learn more