
Left: Carmen Herrera, Equation, 1958, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 42 inches, Collection of Stanley Stairs and Leslie Powell, New York. Image courtesy Lisson Gallery, © Estate of Carmen Herrera
Right: Leon Polk Smith, Okie, 1957, oil on canvas, diameter: 31 1⁄4 inches, Leon Polk Smith Foundation. Image courtesy Lisson Gallery, photo: Mark Waldhauser, © Leon Polk Smith Foundation
Both Sides of the Line
The Decades-long Friendship That Shaped Modern Art
Both Sides of the Line: Carmen Herrera and Leon Polk Smith brings together the groundbreaking work of Carmen Herrera and Leon Polk Smith—neighbors, friends, and pioneers of geometric abstraction. Despite forging a creative dialogue that spanned decades, their work has never been presented side-by-side at this scale, until now.
Through more than 45 works, including paintings, works on paper, and three-dimensional objects, this exhibition examines the dynamic relationship between Herrera’s crisp lines and bold colors and Smith’s sweeping curves and expansive forms. Born in Cuba, Herrera navigated an art world that often marginalized her contributions, while Smith, a gay man who was born in Indian Territory, similarly pushed against the boundaries of a system that never fully recognized his work. Their paths, distinct yet parallel, reveal a shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of abstraction in a mid-century art world that too often overlooked them.
Both Sides of the Line explores how these two artists redefined the visual language of modern art. Their perspectives intersect, diverge, and resonate, offering new ways to understand abstraction, identity, and the power of friendship.
Select works on display














SUPPORT
Lead support for this exhibition is provided by Irving Stenn, Jr., Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch, Luptak Family Foundation, and University of Michigan Office of the Provost. Additional generous support is provided by the Robert Lehman Foundation. Support for the exhibition catalogue and programming is provided by Lisson Gallery, Tony Bechara and the Leon Polk Smith Foundation.


