A wide-ranging look at Lichtenstein's work
The Whitney Museum's exhibition "Roy Lichtenstein: Like New" brings together more than 130 paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints. It is the artist's first major survey in over 30 years, offering visitors a fresh look at the sources and ideas behind his distinctive Pop Art.
Lichtenstein often credited Ohio State University teacher Hoyt Sherman with shaping how he learned to see. Sherman's experimental "Flash Labs" asked students to observe objects briefly in a darkened room before drawing them. The exhibition revisits the approach through a recreated class led by artist and co-curator Alex Da Corte.
Four murals have also been recreated for the show, including the nearly 100-foot-long "Greene Street Mural" from 1983. A presentation of "Super Sunset Billboard" (1967) in the museum's west-facing window creates a playful meeting between the artwork and the changing sky.
Known for transforming visual cues from comics, advertising and art history into instantly recognizable compositions, Lichtenstein remains a compelling subject for new interpretations. Exhibitions that connect an artist's methods with today's viewing experience can help keep art history in active conversation with future generations.
