William Shearburn Gallery is proud to present an exhibition of works  by Robert Motherwell. The exhibition will open May 4th, 2018 and run  through June 15, 2018. There will be an opening reception at the gallery  on May 4th from 6 – 8pm.

The exhibition highlights the  essential use of black in Motherwell’s work both as an aesthetic  development and as significant subject matter. Among the paintings and  prints in the exhibition are pieces from the Elegies and Open  series--arguably his two most important bodies of work—which deal with  large dark themes of human existence such as war, oppression, and  injustice. Motherwell’s use of black is central to understanding the  underlying psychological and philosophical significance expressed in his  work. “The game is not what things look like…Mainly I use each color as  simply symbolic…. black and white, which I use most often, tend to be  protagonists.” The exhibition also includes a number of gestural works  from his series Drunk With Turpentine, emblematic of his use of  psychoanalytical automatic expression which eloquently incorporates  elements of subconscious and transcendental abstract marks with  contemplative and symbolic forms.Motherwell who lived from  1915-1992 has been characterized as one of the most important artist of  the post-war era. He became known as the leading figure of the Abstract  Expressionists and the New York School (a term coined by him), both for  contributing to and for defining the movement with his impressive body  of work and his far-reaching intellect.

For further information,  please contact Katherine Rodway Vega, [email protected],  314.367.8020 or visit www.shearburngallery.com