MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.-The Montclair Art Museum presents Roy Lichtenstein: American Indian Encounters, presented by the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation and on view through January 8, 2006. This show features a virtually unknown group of paintings and works on paper by leading Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, inspired by his appreciation of Native American art. The exhibition includes works on paper created during 1949-1951 when the artist was studying for his Master of Fine Arts degree at Ohio State University and teaching art, as well as works from 1952 made in Cleveland where he remained until his move to New York in 1957. These early works reflect Lichtenstein’s interests in European modernism (Picasso, Miro, and Klee) as well as Native American art. The later works include a 1979 sketchbook of Native American images based on motifs from textiles, ceramics, beadwork, quillwork, and baskets. Also featured is a major series of Surrealist-Pop paintings from 1979 based on Native American themes (Pow Wow, Amerind Composition, Indian Composition,), perhaps stimulated by Lichtenstein’s experiences while residing near a Shinnecock Indian reservation in Southhampton, New York. To Lichtenstein, Native American art provided a historical base for American art, reminiscent of African art’s relationship to European modernism. The exhibition is curated by Twig Johnson and Gail Stavitsky, in concert with Jack Cowart, Director, The Roy Lichtenstein Foundation.

Roy Lichtenstein: American Indian Encounters presented by the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation is organized by the Montclair Art Museum in conjunction with the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation. The exhibition is supported by a generous grant from the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, and from the following Exhibition Angels: Anonymous, Dorothea and Peter Frank, Gregg Seibert, Linda and Brian Sterling, and Judith and William Turner. The exhibition catalogue is supported in part by a grant from the Karma Foundation. Additional support has been provided by Adrian Shelby and Jacqueline and Herb Klein.