In the 1960s, important exhibitions of geometric abstraction cemented the reputations of artists who created colorful, hard-edged paintings that focused on composition and visual effects. While geometric abstraction had long been associated with Indigenous arts, textile design, and decorative embellishments, centering geometric abstraction as fine art gave it new visibility. In the decades since, artists have played with notions of hard-edged abstraction and expanded the style from two to three dimensions, from paint to crochet, prints on various surfaces, and photography. This exhibition, drawn from the Zimmerli’s collection with several loans from contemporary artists, explores the range of geometric abstraction across six decades, national boundaries, and a wide range of materials.

The exhibition is organized by Donna Gustafson, Chief Curator, Nicole Simpson, Associate Curator of Prints and Drawings, and Raven Manygoats, Graduate Assistant.

Generous support for bilingual text was provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.

This exhibition is also supported by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.