FREEDOM OF FLIGHT

The Menil Collection showcases Joe Overstreet: Taking Flight, an electrifying exhibition celebrating the vibrant, politically charged abstract works of the late Joe Overstreet (1933–2019). This monumental showcase, organized chronologically, marks the first major museum exhibition in nearly 30 years to spotlight the pioneering artist. Central to the exhibition are Overstreet’s landmark Flight Pattern series from the early 1970s, displayed alongside transformative works that bookend his career.

Overstreet redefined abstract painting, merging it seamlessly with social politics to create art that resonates with the struggles and triumphs of the Black experience in America.

“The Menil is proud to present Joe Overstreet: Taking Flight, ” shared Rebecca Rabinow, Director of The Menil Collection. “John and Dominique de Menil’s support of the artist began in the early 1970s when a painting was commissioned by him for an exhibition about the African American experience that the couple sponsored in Houston, Texas. Soon after, they purchased two of Overstreet’s Flight Pattern works and invited him back to Houston for a solo show. Now, some fifty years later, the Menil Collection looks forward to sharing his work with a new generation of visitors, both through this beautiful, thought-provoking exhibition, and the illustrated scholarly catalog that provides fascinating insight and context for the appreciation of this artist’s work.”

The exhibition traces Overstreet’s evolution from the intricate, shaped canvas constructions of the late 1960s to his most iconic creations, the Flight Pattern series. Overstreet moved beyond representational styles to craft geometric compositions on shaped canvases. A standout piece from this period, Justice, Faith, Hope, and Peace (1968), embodies his groundbreaking approach, blending political commentary with resolutely abstract forms.