Betty Parsons: An Expanded World - CCS Bard

Exhibition Overview

Betty Parsons: An Expanded World is the first major retrospective in over 25 years to examine the intertwined legacies of Betty Parsons (1900–1982) as both a pioneering abstract artist and trailblazing gallerist who shaped the trajectory of 20th-century American art. The exhibition features approximately 80 works spanning painting, sculpture, and works on paper, tracing Parsons' output from 1922 to 1982.

Exhibition Dates & Location

• June 27 – October 18, 2026
• CCS Bard Galleries

Exhibition Content

The exhibition charts Parsons' evolution from early watercolors to abstract developments, her prolific 1960s and 70s work in prismatically hued sculptures, and her mature work through 1982. It also explores the Betty Parsons Gallery's significant history supporting underrecognized experimental artists including Agnes Martin, Forrest Bess, Robert Rauschenberg, Ellsworth Kelly, and others.

Special Features

A newly commissioned multi-channel film by G. Anthony Svatek and Kaija Siirala brings to life the history of the Betty Parsons Gallery. Artist Amy Sillman (Bard M.F.A. '95) created a site-specific painting integral to the exhibition.

Exhibition Catalogue

A new, comprehensive monograph dedicated to the art of Betty Parsons has been developed alongside the exhibition, copublished by Dancing Foxes, New York, and CCS Bard.

About Betty Parsons

Betty Parsons (1900–1982) was an abstract painter and sculptor best known as a dealer of mid-century art. Born into a prominent New York City family, she attended the 1913 Armory Show at age 13. Throughout her career as a gallerist, she maintained a rigorous artistic practice and her eye for innovative talent helped shape 20th-century American art. She is represented in major museum collections including MoMA, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.