Diebenkorn

in New Mexico

Exhibition

June 21, 2008 - September 7, 2008

Richard Diebenkorn has long been celebrated as an American master, but the pivotal 30 months he spent in Albuquerque, New Mexico, between 1950 and 1952 have never been closely examined. Diebenkorn in New Mexico is the first in-depth exhibition to focus on this time in the artist’s early creative development.

Exhibition images

Richard Diebenkorn, *Untitled (Albuquerque)* (1951)

Richard Diebenkorn, *Untitled “M”* (1951)

Richard Diebenkorn, *Untitled* (c. 1951)

Richard Diebenkorn, *Albuquerque 4* (1951)

Richard Diebenkorn, *Disintegrating Pig* (1950)

Richard Diebenkorn, *Albuquerque 7* (1951)

About the Exhibition

Diebenkorn’s works from this period illustrate the enduring influence of New Mexico’s textures, shapes, and colors on his mature style. Featuring 46 works, including paintings, works on paper, and a very rare welded-metal sculpture, the exhibition marks the first time these pieces have been exhibited together since they were created more than 50 years ago.

In conjunction with Diebenkorn in New Mexico, the Phillips is displaying its collection of nine Diebenkorn works, including paintings from his renowned Berkeley and Ocean Park series. Diebenkorn and his family donated several of these works in recognition of the importance of the Phillips to the artist’s life and career. While stationed near Washington as a Marine during World War II, Diebenkorn often visited the Phillips, and he frequently acknowledged the influence of the museum’s collection on his subsequent work.

Diebenkorn in New Mexico was organized by The Harwood Museum of Art, Taos, of the University of New Mexico.