David Smith: The Drawings

Organised by the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, this was the first major retrospective of David Smith’s drawings.

The Serpentine Gallery displayed a selection of 140 of Smith’s works on paper in a variety of mediums, ranging from gouache and ink on paper, to oil and spray paint. A number of sculptures were also presented (in the UK edition of the exhibition only). The drawings spanned from the beginning of Smith’s career in the 1930s to his death in 1965.

The display of his drawings served to enhance understanding of Smith’s monumental sculptural achievements whilst bringing attention to his expert draughtsmanship.

The exhibition was curated by Paul Cummings and also travelled to the Detroit Institute of Art.