There’s a bold new reason to visit downtown Seattle: the Seattle Art Museum is celebrating the power of black and white with “Monochrome: Calder and Tara Donovan,” on view now through January 17, 2027. The exhibition brings together two brilliant artistic minds — modern master Alexander Calder and acclaimed contemporary sculptor Tara Donovan — in a dazzling dialogue about color, material, and movement.
This is the third chapter of SAM’s multi-year Calder at SAM initiative, honoring the life and legacy of the beloved American artist. Donovan co-curated the show with SAM’s Catharina Manchanda, selecting two of Calder’s matte black sculptures as her inspiration: the cascading hanging mobile Jacaranda (1949), on loan from the National Gallery of Canada, and the bold stabile Mountains (1976) from SAM’s own collection.
Donovan answers with works from five of her own series, transforming humble industrial materials — tar paper, Mylar, stir sticks, even Slinkys — into shimmering installations that recall coral reefs, geological formations, and molecular structures. By limiting her palette to black, white, and silver, she lets the materials themselves become the stars of the show.
The Calder at SAM initiative was made possible by a transformative gift from longtime supporters Jon and Kim Shirley, which also funds ticket and transportation subsidies so everyone in the community can experience the art. Don’t miss this striking celebration of creativity — now open at the Seattle Art Museum in downtown Seattle.
Photo: Calder Foundation, New York
