Helen Frankenthaler in Her Studio, 1967

This article is part of From the Vaults, a series that shines a light on the Museum’s audiovisual archive.

“I’m not involved in doing good women’s painting; I’m involved in doing good painting.” —Helen Frankenthaler

In 1967, The Met visited her New York studio to capture her reflections on life, art, and the evolution of her practice—told entirely in her own words.A pioneering force in postwar American abstraction, Frankenthaler pushed painting into new territory with her gravity-defying “soak-stain” technique, pouring pigment onto canvas laid flat on the floor. Across six decades, her work remained defined by spontaneity, experimentation, and a seamless fusion of color and gesture.


A child holds up a multicolored paper ornament in a fuzzy image
Video
March 21
Black-and-white photo sheet of objects from around The Met
The Eames-designed visual display at The Met was primed for all types of visitors to understand the relationships between time, place, culture, and artistic value.
Kelsey Rose Williams
June 18

A slider containing 2 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Stride, Helen Frankenthaler  American, Acrylic on canvas
Helen Frankenthaler
1969
Take Off, Helen Frankenthaler  American, Oil and enamel on canvas
Helen Frankenthaler
1956