The Rockwell Museum is pleased to present Robert Weingarten | Palettes, a powerful photographic exhibition that delves into the visual and material language of some of the most celebrated artists of this century. On view starting September 26, 2025, through January 5, 2026, the exhibition features 37 large-scale close-up photographs by Robert Weingarten of color palettes and studio artifacts belonging to artists such as Chuck Close, Jim Dine, Eric Fischl, Jasper Johns, Laura Owens, and Ed Ruscha.
Rather than photographing the artists themselves, Weingarten reimagines the genre of portraiture, focusing on the tools, remnants, and environments that surround creative practice. The result is a body of work that reveals the essence of the artist through what is often left behind.
“We close our yearlong celebration of Color with this vibrant and provocative exhibition,” said Erin M. Coe, Executive Director of The Rockwell Museum. “Weingarten’s photographs invite us to see the poetry in the overlooked and consider the accidental beauty of a paint-splattered surface or the quiet intimacy of a palette in use. It’s an invitation to look closer and think more deeply about the creative process.”
Through extreme close-ups of studio surfaces and materials, Weingarten explores how color, light, and texture converge in the making of art. His photographs include everything from drips on Jim Dine’s studio floor, to walls marked with notes and brushstrokes in David Salle’s workspace.
Unique to this presentation of Robert Weingarten: Palettes, The Rockwell introduces Community Palettes, a special collaboration with local artists from New York’s Southern Tier. This complementary display showcases the real paint palettes and work surfaces of five regional artists—ranging from meticulously organized to beautifully chaotic—offering a rare glimpse into the creative process behind the artwork. Featured artists include Bridget Bossart van Otterloo, Candy Sankey, Victoria Hamilton, David Higgins, and Gina Pfleegor.
The public is invited to a special lecture with Shannon Thomas Perich, curator in the Photographic History Collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Her lecture titled, Looking Closely at Robert Weingarten’s Photography of Painter’s Palettes, will contextualize the Palettes series within both Weingarten’s broader practice and the history of photography. The lecture takes place October 30, 6–7 p.m., at The Rockwell Museum. Details and registration are available at RockwellMuseum.org/events.
