The work of Motherwell (1915-1991) is among the most notable achievements in postwar art. His paintings, drawings, and collages share a kinship with the work of his fellow Abstract Expressionists-namely, a strong attachment to psychic self-expression achieved through the act of painting. His art is also tied to literary sources and inspirations. Motherwell himself was a scholar and writer who became the unofficial spokesperson for Abstract Expressionism.

Among the works in the exhibition are drawings from the Automatism Series (1959), which reflect his Surrealist style of automatic drawing, as well as a group of drawings from the Lyric Suite of the 1960s which, with their minimal color and prominent calligraphic forms, demonstrate Motherwell's affinity with Japanese Zen painting. Another section of the exhibition pays homage to the artist's lifelong involvement with collage; a number of prominent works in this medium are highlighted here. Paintings from Motherwell's renowned Open series are also on view, as are a selection of the artist's Elegies to the Spanish Republic.