Matthew Marks is pleased to announce Willem de Kooning: Sculpture, the next exhibition in his gallery at 522 West 22nd Street.

Willem de Kooning’s sculpture is the least-known aspect of his work. This exhibition marks the first time that the three monumental bronzes that mark his greatest achievement in this medium will be exhibited together publicly. Before this exhibition the only place the three sculptures, depicting de Kooning’s classic elemental woman, have been installed together is outside the artist’s studio in East Hampton, New York.

This will be the first public exhibition in this country of Standing Figure, de Kooning’s last and largest sculpture, completed in 1984 and measuring twelve feet high, twenty-one feet wide, and seven feet deep.

De Kooning made his first sculptures in 1969, a group of thirteen hand-sized bronzes based on the human figure. The rare complete set of these small sculptures will be on view in this exhibition for the first time since 1983.

De Kooning used three of these sculptures as maquettes for the monumental bronzes. He attempted his first enlargement in 1970, at the suggestion of Henry Moore. It was not until 1980, however, that he was able to complete the first of the monumental sculptures.

Willem de Kooning: Sculpture, a fully illustrated 80-page hardcover book including texts by Andrew Forge, David Sylvester, and William Tucker, color photographs by Adam Bartos, and an illustrated checklist of the complete sculpture of Willem de Kooning will be published to accompany the exhibition.

Willem de Kooning: Sculpture will be on view at the Matthew Marks Gallery, 522 West 22nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues), through Sunday, June 30, 1996. Hours: Thursday through Sunday, 12:00 – 6:00 PM.

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