In the early 1970s, Mary Heilmann began creating art that harnessed everyday domestic objects, repurposing them with a boldly hand-painted touch. Arriving in New York in the late 1960s, she was energized by the artists occupying the Minimal and Postminimal art scene. Heilmann’s encounters with the work of artists closely associated with Dia’s history, such as Dan Flavin and Donald Judd, made a significant impression while also delineating a clear difference between their practice and her approach.
This exhibition at the Dan Flavin Art Institute in Bridgehampton, New York, presents artworks that mark key milestones in Heilmann’s practice. The presentation includes a selection of early paintings from the 1970s and 1980s when Heilmann began visiting the East End of Long Island. She eventually set up a studio in Bridgehampton, where all of her paintings and many of her ceramics have been made since 1999. Several recently finished works that have not been seen outside of her studio are included in this exhibition as well.
Mary Heilmann: Painting Pictures at the Dan Flavin Art Institute is made possible by generous support from Carol and John Finley. Additional support is also provided by 303 Gallery, New York, Philip E. Aarons and Shelley Fox Aarons, Allison and Larry Berg, and Hauser & Wirth.