May 6, 2016

Dreams in Dust: The Pastels of Lucas Samaras at The Morgan Library & Museum, May 6 – August 21, 2016

“It was the pastels for me that were the magic.” — Lucas Samaras

“During the first three decades of his long career, American artist Lucas Samaras (b. 1936 in Greece) turned to pastel to produce small, intimate works that explored themes present in his better-known paintings, sculptures, and installations. He was attracted to pastel’s bright colors and shimmering surface, and also to the fact that it was an unfashionable medium in postwar American art. Dreams in Dust: The Pastels of Lucas Samaras celebrates the gift of fortyeight works to the Morgan from the artist and his dealer Arne Glimcher. Dating to the years 1958-1983, they range in subject matter from dreamlike seascapes and interiors to self-portraits, nudes, and still life. The installation of the exhibition was conceived in collaboration with the artist, who designed a wallpaper for it.” — The Morgan Library & Museum

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Untitled July 26, 1961, drawing, pastel on paper, 2013.49 recto

Lucas Samaras, Untitled, July 26, 1961, pastel on blue construction paper. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace Gallery.

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Untitled 1958, drawing, pastel on paper 2013.38 recto

Lucas Samaras, Untitled, 1958, pastel and gold metallic paint on light green construction paper. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace Gallery.

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Untitled May 30, 1960. drawing, pastel on paper, 2013.40 recto

Lucas Samaras, Untitled, May 30, 1960, pastel on purple construction paper. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace Gallery.

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Untitled March 3, 1961. drawing, pastel on paper 2013.43 recto

Lucas Samaras, Untitled, March 3, 1961, pastel on white construction paper. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace Gallery.

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Untitled July 16, 1961, drawing, pastel on paper, 2013.47 recto

Lucas Samaras, Untitled, July 16, 1961, pastel on red construction paper. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace Gallery.

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Untitled June 22, 1962, drawing, pastel on paper, 2013.52 recto

Lucas Samaras, Untitled, June 22, 1962, pastel on black construction paper. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace.

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Untitled July 7, 1962, drawing, pastel on paper, 2013.53 recto

Lucas Samaras, Untitled, July 7, 1962, pastel on black construction paper. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace.

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Untitled July 7, 1962, drawing, pastel on paper, 2013.54 recto

Lucas Samaras, Untitled, July 7, 1962, pastel on black construction paper. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace.

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Untitled June 2, 1965, drawing, pastel on paper, 2013.58 recto

Lucas Samaras, Untitled, June 2, 1965, pastel on black construction paper. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace Gallery.

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Untitled July 29, 1965, drawing, pastel on paper, 2013.61 recto

Lucas Samaras, Untitled, July 29, 1965, pastel on black construction paper. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace.

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Untitled August 11, 1974, drawing, pastel on paper, 2013.65 recto

Lucas Samaras, Untitled, August 11, 1974, pastel on black bristol board. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace.

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Untitled August 14, 1974, drawing, pastel on paper, 2013.67 recto

Lucas Samaras, Untitled, August 14, 1974, pastel on black bristol board. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace Gallery.

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Untitled August 28, 1974, drawing, pastel on paper, 2013.68 recto

Lucas Samaras, Untitled, August 28, 1974, pastel on black bristol board. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace Gallery.

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Untitled September 8, 1974, drawing, pastel on paper, 2013.70 recto

Lucas Samaras, Untitled, September 8, 1974, pastel on black bristol board. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace Gallery.

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Chair with Figures #49 June 7, 1981, drawing, pastel on paper, 2013.74 recto

Lucas Samaras, Chair with Figures #49, June 7, 1981, pastel on black bristol board. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace Gallery.

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Head #16 June 19, 1981. 2013.75

Lucas Samaras, Head #16, June 19, 1981, pastel on black bristol board. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace Gallery.

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Head #142 July 13, 1981, drawing, pastel on paper, 2013.76 recto

Lucas Samaras, Head #142, July 14, 1981, pastel on black bristol board. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace Gallery.

Samaras, Lucas, 1936- Head #145 July 16, 1981, drawing, Pastel on paper, 2013.77

Lucas Samaras, Head #145, July 16, 1981, pastel on paper. The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of Lucas Samaras and Arne Glimcher. Photography by Graham S. Haber, 2015. © Lucas Samaras, courtesy Pace Gallery.

Images courtesy The Morgan Library & Museum