The Norton Museum in West Palm Beach, Florida, has unveiled an exhibition that juxtaposes historical and contemporary art, featuring works by Auguste Rodin alongside figures from the Pop Art movement, such as Andy Warhol.
This unique exhibit showcases six sculptures by the renowned French artist Rodin, complemented by ten pieces from prominent American Pop Art icons, including Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Indiana, and Frank Stella.
Rodin’s contributions to the exhibition include the monumental “Cybelle” and five small-scale bronze sculptures, all on long-term loan from the Iris Cantor Collection and the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation.
Ghislain d’Humières, the Norton’s Executive Director, expressed gratitude to the lenders for providing these works, which he noted offer “a window into Rodin’s creative mind.”
The Norton Museum’s exploration of the transition from classical to contemporary art delves deeply into the American Pop Art movement that emerged in the 1950s.
Among the highlights is Warhol’s “Superman” (1981), an acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas, featured in the Friedman Gallery installation titled “15 Minutes: A Moment in Pop Art.”
Additionally, Warhol’s “Flowers” (1964) is displayed alongside other notable works such as James Rosenquist’s “Flower Garden” (1972), Roy Lichtenstein’s “Water Lilies with Cloud” (1992), and Robert Indiana’s “The Golden Future of America” (1976).
J. Rachel Gustafson, the Norton’s Director of Curatorial Research and Operations, emphasized the enduring relevance and resonance of these artworks with viewers.
“These sculptures and paintings resonate because they evoke universal truths, whether it’s the gesture of a musician’s hand, as seen in Rodin’s work, or the messages of mass consumption and popular culture in Warhol’s art that began after World War II and continues to this day,” Gustafson stated in the museum’s release.
The exhibition will remain open until the first week of October.
