Thomas Schütte

A Deep Dive into Schütte’s Artistic Journey

This exhibition marks the first significant museum survey of Schütte's work in the United States in over 20 years, providing a unique opportunity for audiences to engage with both rarely seen pieces and the artist’s well-known works. Curated by Paulina Pobocha, former Associate Curator at MoMA and now Senior Curator at the Hammer Museum, along with Caitlin Chaisson, this retrospective aims to shed light on the diverse themes and approaches within Schütte's oeuvre.

Born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1954, Schütte’s artistic education at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf alongside luminaries like Gerhard Richter and Andreas Gursky significantly shaped his practice. His early works critiqued the prevailing Minimalist and Conceptual art movements while embedding cultural and historical narratives, allowing him to create a body of work that is both visually striking and intellectually profound.

Exploring Themes of Aesthetics and History

The exhibition will celebrate the common threads that link Schütte's diverse creations—from figurative sculptures to intimate watercolors and intricate architectural models. By examining these seemingly disparate objects, it aims to uncover the rich cultural context from which they emerged and the broader narratives that inform them. As Pobocha notes, Schütte’s philosophy emphasizes that art is not only beautiful but requires significant effort to engage with, asking audiences to invest time and thought into their interactions with his work.

Schütte's dedication to the intricate relationship between art and its historical context is echoed in his own words: “Art is beautiful but requires considerable effort.” This ethos underpins the exhibition, which encourages viewers to engage deeply with the pieces on display, fostering a more profound appreciation of the artist’s contributions to contemporary art.

Accompanying Publication and Support

To complement the exhibition, MoMA will publish a fully illustrated catalogue featuring essays that explore Schütte’s artistic practice from his training to his present work. Contributions from Pobocha, Jennifer Allen, and André Rottmann will offer various scholarly insights, while reflections by notable artists like Marlene Dumas and Charles Ray will illuminate Schütte’s impact on the art world.

The exhibition is made possible through the generous support of MoMA’s partner Hyundai Card, with leadership funding from the Eyal and Marilyn Ofer Family Foundation, the Sandra and Tony Tamer Exhibition Fund, and several other foundations.

This retrospective of Thomas Schütte at MoMA not only promises to be a significant event in the art world but also serves as a critical exploration of an artist whose work challenges and enriches our understanding of contemporary art. With its emphasis on form, aesthetics, and cultural history, the exhibition aims to introduce new audiences to Schütte’s impactful practice while providing a thorough examination of his artistic evolution over the past five decades.

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