BY STEPHANIE BUHMANN | A founding member of the New York School, Richard Pousette-Dart (1916-1992) is best known for his elaborate paintings. However, his career spanned several decades — and within that time, he explored various styles and media, including painting, poetry, and sculpture.
This particular gem of an exhibition is solely devoted to Pousette-Dart’s early work, when he primarily created directly carved sculptures and related works on paper. It showcases about 80 works from the 1930s, including drawings, notebooks and brasses. Eastern philosophy and religion, as well as African, Oceanic and Native American art were among his most important early influences — and they can be easily traced here.
The works on display embrace archaic forms that are often set against solidly colored backgrounds, generating a sense of iconographic importance. Many of these works contemplate the human figure, albeit in a manner that reflects Pousette-Dart’s interest in working three-dimensionally at this time. Surrounding space, orientation, volume and the linearity of planes are key aspects of this thorough investigation. Other studies allude to dance, animal forms, masks, as well as heads, or ponder various abstract and geometric elements.
Through Dec. 20 at The Drawing Center (35 Wooster St., btw. Grand & Broome Sts.). Hours: 12–6 p.m. on Wed., Fri., Sat. & Sun. and 12–8 p.m. on Thurs. (free admission, 6–8 p.m.). General admission, $5 ($3 for students/seniors, free for children under 12). Call 212-219-2166 or visit drawingcenter.org.
