A rare, hand-signed offset lithograph invitation card from a 1985 Helen Frankenthaler exhibition at the Milwaukee Art Museum has surfaced on the market. The two-sided card, which served as an invitation for the show "Frankenthaler, Works on Paper, 1949-1984," was signed by the artist in ink during her talk at the opening reception on October 3, 1985. It is currently presented in a double-sided frame to preserve the integrity of the signature and the exhibition text.
This item represents a unique intersection of ephemera and fine art, highlighting the market value of provenance and personal artist interaction. As Frankenthaler was a pivotal figure in the transition from Abstract Expressionism to Color Field painting, such signed artifacts serve as historical documents of her institutional presence and her engagement with the public during the height of her career.