Opening Reception
Friday, September 5, 2025
6 - 8 pm
Berry Campbell is pleased to announce a retrospective of works by Mercedes Matter (1913-2001). A pioneering figure in Abstract Expressionism, Matter is most known for founding the New York Studio School in 1964 following the publication of her influential essay, “What’s Wrong with U.S. Art Schools?” in ARTnews. Matter was one of the first female voting members of The Club and a founding member of American Abstract Artists, shaping discourse as both an artist and teacher throughout the postwar period. Matter is celebrated for her commitment to drawing from life. She believed in direct observation as a pathway to abstraction, emphasizing the dynamic relationship between perception and form. The exhibition will open with a reception Friday, September 5, 2025, and will be accompanied by a catalogue with an essay by Christina Kee.
