ODYSSEY: Jack Whitten Sculptures at MET Breuer - Unseen Sculptures & Iconic Works

The extraordinary exhibition of the works by one of the most innovative artists of the 20th & 21st C Jack Whitten is a collection of 40 sculptures he created from 1963-2017 which have never been made available to the public are on view at the MET Breuer.   The sculptures are carved from wood, both smooth and charred.  Locally found materials are used in these works which reference influences of African, Ancient Mediterranean and Southern American States.  The works are graceful, powerful, playful, mystical & inspiring.  The exhibition includes a large collection of his iconic Black Monolith Series that pay tribute to prominent figures in the arenas of art, politics, music, sports and literature.  This too is the first time so many works from the Black Monolith Series have been compiled & shown together.  The MET draws from its collection of African art, American art and Greek antiquities. Their relevance with Whitten's own work make these pieces feel redundant.  It is crucial to see ODYSSEY. This is a rare & massive collection of Jack Whitten's art that attest to his profound genius as an artist and social advocate.  I will be revisiting this magnificent treasure trove of Mr. Whitten's bounty of art only now being presented on this collective scale to the public.