Go See – New York: “Compass in Hand: Selections from the Judith Rothschild Foundation Contemporary Drawings Collection” at the MOMA, Through January 4, 2010

September 7th, 2009


“Camp Forestia” (1996) by Peter Doig. Via NY Times.

On view now until early 2010, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has opened the Judith Rothschild Foundation Contemporary Drawings Collection, which was originally acquired in 2005. The exhibit features over 2,500 contemporary works and surveys “various methods and materials within the styles of gestural and geometric abstraction, representation and figuration, and systems-based conceptual drawings.” Artists showcased in the exhibition include Lee Bontecou, Joseph Beuys, Donald Judd, Hanne Darboven, Elizabeth Peyton, John Currin, Amelie von Wulffen, Mona Hatoum, Lucy McKenzie, Paulina Olowska, Nate Lowman, and more.


“Untitled” by Kai Althoff (2004). Via NY Times.

Related Links:
Compass in Hand: Selections from The Judith Rothschild Foundation [MoMA]
Video – Compass in Hand: Curator Christian Rattemeyer discusses the exhibit [MoMA]
MoMA Pushes the Envelope in Works on Paper [NY Times]
Compass in Hand: Selections from the Rothschild Foundation [Art in America]
Compass in Hand: Art Review [ArtSlant]

The exhibit focuses on defying the traditional boundaries of “a work on paper,” by experimenting with various and unconventional media. Kelley Walker, an artist involved with the exhibition, has transformed the nature of “acceptable” drawing by venturing into the digital realm with several of his pieces. A work of his, nine disasters, has recently been added to the Museum’s collection and showcases nine images which are arranged on a grid and dotted with circles drawn in by the artist. This work has been reproduced as the wallpaper for the exhibition “Compass in Hand” and serves as the backdrop for the myriad of works in the gallery.


“Untitled” (1976) by Lee Bontecou. Via NY Times.


“Screamadelica” (2004) by Jim Lambie. Via NY Times.


“Weeds of the Northeast, 5″ (1974) by Rea Morton. Via NY Times.


“Tetradattilo con Vegetazione” (1975) by Ele D’Artagnan. Via NY Times.

The pieces in “Compass in Hand” range from simple sketches to highly digitalized work. It ventures from basic pencil and paper drawings of sitting models to renderings of monstrous creatures and mutant beauties. The works in the collection have been selected and installed by Christian Rattemeyer, associate curator in the MoMA drawing department. It is the single largest exhibition of drawings ever featured at the MoMA to date.


“Nova Popularna” (1976) by McKenzie/Olowska. Via NY Times.


“Nine Disasters” (2002) by Kelley Walker. Via NY Times.


“Peitschenfrau” (1964) by Georg Baselitz. Via NY Times.