Palazzo Strozzi hosts the largest exhibition on Helen Frankenthaler made in Italy

In Florence, Palazzo Strozzi is colored by the revolutionary art of Helen Frankenthaler (New York, 1928 - Darien, 2011), with the largest exhibition ever held in Italy dedicated to this important 20th-century American artist. The exhibition, titled Helen Frankenthaler: Painting Without Rules, offers, from September 27, 2024 to January 26, 2025, a wide selection of Frankenthaler’s works made between 1953 and 2002, from the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation and loans from major museums and private collections. The artist’s works will be placed in dialogue with works by artists contemporary to her, including Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Robert Motherwell.

Helen Frankenthaler was a key figure in the second generation of postwar American abstract painters. Her work marked a key transition fromAbstract Expressionism to Color Field Painting. With a “no rules” approach, Frankenthaler challenged the limitations of painting techniques and the genre expectations of her time, establishing herself as one of the leading artists of her generation. Her ability to explore new relationships between color and form expanded the possibilities of abstract painting, continuing to inspire contemporary artists.

The exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi will allow visitors to discover Helen Frankenthaler’s connections, influences and friendships through a comparison with the works of artists contemporary to her. These artists, some of whom were part of Frankenthaler’s personal collection, include Anthony Caro, Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, David Smith, Anne Truitt and others. Among the works on display are pieces such as Helen’s Collage (1957) by Robert Motherwell, Aleph Series V (1960) by Morris Louis, and the sculpture Ascending the Stairs (1979-1983) by Anthony Caro.

The exhibition is co-organized by the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi and the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, with Douglas Dreishpoon curating. The exhibition enjoys the support of the City of Florence, the Region of Tuscany and the Florence Chamber of Commerce, along with private contributions from the Fondazione CR Firenze, Intesa Sanpaolo and the Palazzo Strozzi Partners Committee.

Born in New York, Helen Frankenthaler studied at Bennington College under Paul Feeley. In the 1950s, she returned to Manhattan and came into contact with the leading exponents of the New York School, developing friendly and collaborative relationships. This creative and stimulating environment fostered her artistic experimentation. Friends and colleagues who shared her commitment to experimentation included such prominent artists as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Robert Motherwell, whose works will be exhibited alongside hers. The exhibition is intended as an opportunity to explore the work of one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, placing her in dialogue with her contemporaries and showing her lasting impact on abstract painting.

Image: Helen Frankenthaler in her studio.

Palazzo Strozzi hosts the largest exhibition on Helen Frankenthaler made in Italy

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