ROSS BLECKNER: NEVER THE LESS

Ross Bleckner emerged as a leading artist in New York during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, creating paintings that explore change, loss, memory, and the human body. A central figure in the decade’s revival of painting, he developed a practice that merges psychological, social, and political themes within a strong conceptual framework. In 1995, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York presented a mid-career retrospective of his work, underscoring his importance in contemporary art. NEVER THE LESS will highlight a lesser-known part of Bleckner’s process, offering new insight into one of the most prolific painters of our time. Bleckner begins by making his own paint and testing it on black paper, where the experimental brushwork often produces striking results. From there, he creates a series of small canvases that gradually increase in scale, leading to the large paintings for which he is best known. Over decades, this approach has yielded hundreds—if not thousands—of works. Guild Hall presents a selection of these rarely seen studies alongside major large-scale paintings. While rooted in process, the smaller works stand powerfully on their own. Together, they reveal the breadth of Bleckner’s artistic vision, offering an expansive view of his practice across time—an illustrated timeline through painting. This exhibition is organized by Melanie Crader, museum director and curator of visual arts, with support from Philippa Content, museum manager and registrar and Claire Hunter, museum coordinator and curatorial associate. GALLERY HOURS: WEDNESDAY TO SUNDAY, 12-5 PM from August 9-September 6 THURSDAY TO SUNDAY, 12-5 PM from September 10-October 27 NEW: Third Thursdays! On the third Thursday of every month from May through September, galleries will stay open until 7:30 PM, and will include live music in the garden and exhibition-related programs to follow. MUSEUM ADMISSION: $12 / $10 for Seniors, 65+ Free for Members, Children, and Students