Now Until 9/20/2026 -- See the Willem de Kooning Exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago Celebrating a 7-Decade Career

A Landmark Exhibition of an Abstract Expressionist Icon

The Museum of Modern Art defines ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM as a pioneering post-World War II American art movement that flourished in New York in the 1940s and 1950s. It is characterized by non-representational imagery, monumental scale, and an emphasis on spontaneous, emotional expression.

Willem de Kooning Drawing opens on June 14. This unprecedented presentation looks at the movement-defining artist through the drawing practice that shaped his seven-decade career. Please note Willem de Kooning Drawing requires a $7 exhibition ticket in addition to general admission and uses a virtual line. Be sure to join the virtual line when you enter the museum by scanning the QR codes available on signs in the lobbies. Want to see the show first and for free? Become a member today! Members never need an additional ticket and enjoy three days of exclusive Member Previews, June 11–13.Learn more about visiting the show in our FAQs.