The article reports on the Museum of Modern Art's retrospective "Jack Whitten: The Messenger," which runs through August 2 and features 175 works including paintings, sculpture, and archival materials. Curator Michelle Kuo describes Whitten's "endless innovation," noting that art handlers were astonished by his pioneering techniques. Whitten, who died in 2018 at age 78, moved from Alabama to New York in 1960, attended Cooper Union, and was influenced by jazz and figures like Willem de Kooning and Romare Bearden. The article also examines Whitten's art market, highlighting his auction record of $2.66 million for "Special Checking" (1974) at Sotheby's in 2019, and noting that while prices are rising, his work remains undervalued compared to peers like Gerhard Richter.
This matters because Whitten, despite being revered by fellow artists, remains underrecognized by the general public, making the MoMA retrospective a crucial moment for broader appreciation. The market analysis reveals a scarcity of available masterpieces, as early collectors and institutions have already acquired key works, yet experts believe his most important pieces are still undervalued. The article also underscores Whitten's influence on younger artists like Gary Simmons and his role as an educator, positioning him as a significant but overlooked figure whose market and legacy are gaining momentum.