It’s a Draw: Sneak Peek of Two Shows Coming Soon to the Menil

It’s a Draw: Sneak Peek of Two Shows Coming Soon to the Menil

'Steak' by Roy Lichtenstein, part of the Menil's 'Draw Like a Machine' show

THE MENIL COLLECTION has announced two new exhibits that will arrive at its Drawing Institute at the end of this month, both on view through March 13, 2022.


Draw Like a Machine: Pop Art, 1952-1975 includes more than 30 drawings made during an era when many artists were exploring techniques informed by the burgeoning advertising and mass-media industries. The featured works don't showcase "traditional" gestural strokes, but rather ones that resemble something made by a machine.

The Menil Drawing Institute's assistant curator Kelly Montana said in a statement, "Informed by an era in which art was increasingly integrated into popular culture, artists exploited graphic strategies harnessed by the working creatives of the day such as admen, illustrators, and sign painters to critique and subvert the prestige of drawing."

Ones by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and others originally collected by John and Dominique de Menil themselves will certainly be a highlight of the exhibit.

Meanwhile, Spatial Awareness: Drawings from the Permanent Collection is set to explore artists' understanding and rendering of physical space. Expect 3-D drawings, along with ones that put the human body in motion and employ visual techniques like folding, layering and transparency. The use of lines in various ways is also a common means of exploring space.

The show was organized by Saskia Verlaan, the Drawing Institute's first pre-doctoral fellow, who calls it a "dynamic collection" that challenge the "conventional and traditional ideas about drawing as a part of the broader reevaluation of the medium as a dynamic and fully independent arena of artistic practice."

Both shows open to the public on Oct. 29.

'Apotheosis of Hershey Wrapper' by Al Hansen, on view as part of 'Machine'

Untitled by Leon Polk, part of 'Machine'

'Drawing Interruptions Blocked Structures 4' by Barry Le Va, part of 'Spatial Awareness'

'Ractangle, Square' by Dorothea Rockburne, part of 'Spatial'


Art + Entertainment
Chapman & Kirby Launches Free Concert Series for Spring

Danny Ray and the Atlantic Street Band performs May 31 (photo from dannyrayatlanticstreetband.com)

CHAPMAN & KIRBY, THE premier event destination in Houston’s East Village, is thrilled to announce the launch of its Spring Music Series, kicking off on Friday, April 12. Chapman & Kirby has become synonymous with top-tier events and unforgettable experiences, many attended by celebrities both local and worldwide. With concert ticket prices soaring to hundreds and even thousands of dollars in the last year, this eight-week music series promises to be a welcomed opportunity to engage with live music for free, showcasing an eclectic lineup of talented acts.

Keep Reading Show less

The pool at Zen

THE MANAGER OF Grand Velas Riviera Maya says a funny thing as she tours a writer around the 206-acre all-inclusive between Cancun and Tulum. “I still get lost sometimes. If I forget what I’m doing and stop looking at the signs, I wind up in the parking lot.”

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places

The Cottages at the Boat Basin

THERE'S A REASON that many Houstonians glorify a quaintly picturesque life on Nantucket. Actually, there are several: a storied history, charming shops, cobblestone streets, impossibly fresh oysters (and need we even mention the weather?).

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places