The Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) and the Nasher Sculpture Center have jointly opened "Roy Lichtenstein in the Studio," a landmark two-venue exhibition celebrating the pop artist's centennial. Organized by curators Dr. Catherine Craft, Ade Omotosho, and Dr. Emily Friedman, the show features over 50 works gifted by the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation, which is closing its operations. The exhibition marks the first collaboration between the neighboring institutions since "Matisse as Sculptor" nearly 20 years ago, and includes prints, drawings, maquettes, and sculptures that establish Dallas as a study center for Lichtenstein's work.
This exhibition matters because it represents the culmination of the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation's planned dissolution, which began in 2018 at the request of Dorothy Lichtenstein, the artist's widow. The foundation's decision to donate its holdings to institutions globally, including the DMA and Nasher, ensures continued public access to Lichtenstein's legacy. The collaboration also highlights a rare institutional partnership between two major museums across the street from each other, reinforcing Dallas's role as a hub for art scholarship and display, particularly for pop art and Lichtenstein's oeuvre.