The Cy Twombly Foundation is presenting six rarely seen early works by Robert Rauschenberg at Gagosian's new Upper East Side gallery in New York. The exhibition includes a fragile 1950 assemblage of twigs and glass, a cyanotype made with his then-wife Susan Weil, a 'Black Painting' from around 1952, and a 1961 assemblage, offering a unique glimpse into a period of the artist's output that he largely destroyed.
This exhibition is significant because it highlights the deep personal and artistic connection between Rauschenberg and Cy Twombly, who were close friends and briefly romantic partners. Displaying these foundation-owned works alongside a concurrent Marcel Duchamp show creates a powerful dialogue between three titans of 20th-century art, while also raising intriguing questions about the market status of these historically important pieces.