March 22 - July 13, 2025
CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF ART
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA
Carnegie Museum of Art presents Raymond Saunders: Flowers from a Black Garden, the first major retrospective of the Pittsburgh-born artist and his most comprehensive exhibition to date.
Since the 1960s, Saunders (b. 1934) has created dynamic, improvisational works that blend abstraction and figuration. His large-scale paintings incorporate everyday objects, found imagery, and expressive markings, often set against a black background—a signature element that ties to his influential 1967 essay, Black Is a Color.
Saunders’ artistic journey began in Pittsburgh, where he attended Saturday art classes at Carnegie Museum of Art alongside figures like Andy Warhol. He later earned degrees from Carnegie Institute of Technology and the California College of Arts and Crafts before settling in Oakland, CA, where he has continued his practice as both an artist and educator.
Featuring around 35 works, this exhibition traces Saunders’ distinctive approach to painting, drawing inspiration from movements such as Dada, expressionism, and Pop art. Through his unconventional process and poetic visual language, Flowers from a Black Garden offers a profound exploration of history, identity, and artistic freedom.
Don’t miss this landmark exhibition celebrating a visionary artist’s lifelong dedication to pushing the boundaries of painting.
For more information, click here.