This exhibition presents the extraordinary and previously unknown sculptures of acclaimed American artist Jack Whitten (1939–2018).

Whitten's sculptures, which he first created in New York and later at his summer home on Crete, consist of carved wood, often in combination with found materials sourced from his local environment, including bone, marble, paper, glass, nails, and fishing line. Inspired by art-historical sources rooted in Africa, the ancient Mediterranean, and the Southern United States, Whitten's sculptures not only address the themes of place, memory, family, and migration, they also give expression to a transnational, cosmopolitan perspective.

Forty sculptures are joined by eighteen of the artist's paintings, including his entire Black Monolith series, dedicated to African American leaders in art and politics, and by sixteen works of African, Mycenaean, Minoan, Cycladic, and American art from The Met's distinguished collection.