TURIN.- The Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Torino (GAM) is hosting the first major Italian retrospective of acclaimed American artist Mary Heilmann. Running through March 16, 2025, this landmark exhibition celebrates over 60 years of Heilmann’s vibrant and playful contributions to contemporary abstract painting.

Curated by Chiara Bertola, GAM’s director, in collaboration with the artist and Studio Heilmann in New York, the exhibition features 60 works spanning Heilmann’s career—from her geometric pieces of the 1970s to her recent fluorescent-shaped canvases. Each artwork captures Heilmann’s distinct approach to abstraction, blending spontaneity, color, and autobiographical themes.

Discover the vibrant and playful abstract works of one of America’s most influential contemporary painters.

A Journey Through Six Decades of Abstraction

Born in San Francisco in 1940, Heilmann’s journey into painting began with studies in poetry, ceramics, and sculpture. She moved to New York in 1968, shifting her focus to painting amidst a thriving sculptural scene. Her works combine the structured geometries of minimalism with the free-spirited ethos of the Beat Generation, influenced by California’s surf culture, the 1970s counterculture, and the Free Speech Movement.

Heilmann’s paintings are known for their playful irregularities. Shapes appear to melt into one another, with colors bleeding beyond the edges. Despite their apparent simplicity, her works contain hidden layers of structural complexity that gradually reveal themselves. Her brushstrokes remain visible, imbuing her work with a sense of immediacy and connection to the artist’s process.

Highlights of the Exhibition

Each gallery in the exhibition evokes the emotions and “chromatic sound” of a specific period in Heilmann’s career, reflecting her belief that every painting is an autobiographical marker. The display includes:

• Early Works (1970s):

Heilmann’s early geometric compositions, inspired by architectural details and domestic interiors, include Chinatown (1976), named after her first neighborhood in New York. These works showcase the influence of modernist masters like Piet Mondrian, as seen in French Screen (1978) and The Rosetta Stone I (1978).

• Mid-Career and Recent Works:

Paintings from the late 1980s to today highlight key moments from Heilmann’s life. Pieces such as Driving at Night (2016) reflect her fascination with road trips, evoking imagery of endless highways, road movies, and video games. Oceanic landscapes like Pal Al (2011) and Tube at Dusk (2022) capture the meditative repetition of waves, paying homage to her Californian surf roots.

• Functional Art:

The exhibition also includes custom-designed armchairs by Heilmann, a new edition created specifically for GAM, blending functionality with her colorful artistic vision.

A Dialogue Across Generations

Heilmann’s work resonates with both contemporary audiences and the broader art historical canon. By juxtaposing her bold modernity with impressionist concepts of light and fleeting moments, the exhibition highlights the timelessness of her practice. As Bertola notes, the GAM aims to champion artists whose work continues to inspire and challenge, fostering a dialogue across generations.

Curatorial Vision and Complementary Exhibitions

This exhibition is part of a broader initiative at GAM under Bertola’s leadership. It coincides with the Art Week and Artissima art fair in Turin, featuring a reimagining of the museum’s historic collections, the opening of the “Living Depot,” and two additional exhibitions exploring themes of light, color, and time.

Heilmann’s works are presented in an organic interplay with the museum’s collection, encouraging viewers to draw connections between different periods and artistic languages. This approach fosters unexpected interpretations and reinforces the GAM’s commitment to innovation and dialogue.

A Global Legacy

Mary Heilmann’s influence extends beyond her paintings. Her works have been exhibited in prestigious institutions worldwide, including the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, the Camden Arts Centre in London, and the Museum Ludwig in Cologne. Represented by Hauser & Wirth and 303 Gallery, Heilmann continues to push boundaries and inspire a new generation of artists.


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