The Museum of the City of New York is commemorating the centennial of influential American artist Robert Rauschenberg (1925-2008) with a comprehensive exhibition titled "Robert Rauschenberg's New York: Pictures from the Real World." This dynamic showcase explores the groundbreaking artist's innovative approach to integrating photography and found objects into his artistic practice, highlighting his profound engagement with everyday reality and his multifaceted relationship with New York City.
The exhibition is thoughtfully organized into three distinct sections that trace the evolution of Rauschenberg's photographic work and its intricate relationship with other artistic mediums. The three sections—"Early Photographs," "In & Out City Limits," and "Photography in Painting"—demonstrate how Rauschenberg's photographic practice evolved and intersected with painting, sculpture, and assemblage throughout his career.
The centerpiece of the exhibition is "In & Out City Limits," an ambitious three-year photographic survey project that Rauschenberg conducted across the United States from 1979 to 1981. This extensive project represented the fulfillment of a vision that Rauschenberg had originally conceived decades earlier during his time as a student at Black Mountain College in North Carolina. The New York photographs from this comprehensive survey reveal his deep fascination with the signs and symbols of human culture, finding artistic meaning even in the most humble or discarded remnants of urban life.
Collectively, these photographs demonstrate Rauschenberg's exceptional observational skills and his persistent efforts to capture and transform the fleeting, often indescribable moments of daily life into powerful artistic statements. The images reveal his profound sensitivity to the social landscape and his ability to find beauty and meaning in overlooked aspects of city life. Through his lens, ordinary street scenes, discarded objects, and urban decay become compelling visual narratives about contemporary American society.
Beyond the "In & Out City Limits" series, the exhibition presents a carefully curated selection of works created between 1963 and 1994 that showcase Rauschenberg's innovative creative process. These pieces combine his New York City photographs with images captured around the world, illustrating his masterful ability to re-contextualize photographic imagery through his groundbreaking artistic techniques. This global perspective demonstrates how Rauschenberg used his New York experiences as a foundation for understanding and interpreting diverse cultural landscapes.
The exhibition has received substantial financial support from multiple sources, with lead funding provided by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. Additional generous support has come from prominent donors including Matt and Marisa Brown, Ronay and Richard Menschel, Jill and Peter Kraus, Elizabeth Belfer, and Gillian and Robert Steel. The exhibition also benefits from public funding through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, as well as support from the New York State Council on the Arts with backing from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Visitors interested in learning more about this significant exhibition and planning their visit can find additional information and details at mcny.org. The exhibition offers art enthusiasts and photography lovers a rare opportunity to explore the work of one of America's most innovative artists and gain insight into his unique perspective on urban life and contemporary culture.
