Phillips to Present Landmark Exhibition Tracing Artist Alice Baber's Vision

The selling exhibition "Alice Baber: Sacred Spaces" will showcase the pioneering Abstract Expressionist's work from 1959-1981.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Phillips is proud to announce the upcoming exhibition "Alice Baber: Sacred Spaces," a major selling exhibition dedicated to the pioneering American Abstract Expressionist and Color Field painter. Presented in partnership with Jody Klotz Fine Art, the exhibition will feature nearly 30 works spanning 1959 to 1981, offering the most comprehensive market-facing presentation of Baber's artistic evolution to date. The show coincides with the publication of a new biography on the artist by Gail Levin.

Why it matters

Alice Baber's work is represented in nearly 50 museums worldwide, yet her contributions were long overshadowed until recent scholarship and collector rediscovery began restoring her rightful place in the Post-War art historical narrative. This exhibition and the accompanying biography aim to further elevate Baber's status and bring renewed visibility to her pioneering abstract style.

The details

The exhibition will include rare early watercolors and oils from the 1960s, as well as later works such as the 1965 oil painting "Bright Safe" and the 1965 watercolor "Yellow and Red Support." Important early highlights from her career, including "Piper's Message" and "Where They Meet," will also be on display. The show allows audiences to experience Baber's evolution with unprecedented clarity, revealing the breadth of her experimentation with color, movement, light, and the "sacred space" of the canvas.

  • The exhibition will be on view at Phillips New York from March 6-26, 2026.
  • A highlights preview will be open from February 20-28, 2026.
  • A symposium featuring the exhibition's organizers will take place on February 17, 2026 at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette.
  • A panel discussion with the exhibition's organizers and the publisher of the new Baber biography will take place on March 16, 2026 at Phillips.

The players

Alice Baber

A pioneering American Abstract Expressionist and Color Field painter whose work is the focus of this landmark exhibition.

Jody Klotz

The art dealer and owner of Jody Klotz Fine Art in Texas, who is partnering with Phillips to present this exhibition on Alice Baber.

Gail Levin

The author of the forthcoming biography "Alice Baber: An Artist's Triumph Over Tragedy," which is being published in conjunction with this exhibition.

Robert Manley

The Chairman of Modern & Contemporary Art at Phillips, which is hosting this important exhibition on Alice Baber.

Danielle Johnson

The Curator of the Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University, who will participate in the symposium related to the exhibition.

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What they’re saying

“Partnering with PhillipsX in presenting this exhibition on Alice Baber is a dream come true. A heartfelt mission to elevate Baber from obscurity started with the first painting I purchased by the artist several years ago. It was a "coup de foudre" — love at first sight!”

— Jody Klotz, Art Dealer, Owner of Jody Klotz Fine Art, Texas (bakercityherald.com)

“Phillips is honored to host this important exhibition. Alice Baber's work is represented in nearly 50 museums worldwide, yet her contributions were long overshadowed until recent scholarship and collector rediscovery began restoring her rightful place in the Post-War art historical narrative.”

— Robert Manley, Phillips' Chairman, Modern & Contemporary Art (bakercityherald.com)

What’s next

The exhibition at Phillips New York will be followed by a panel discussion on March 16, 2026 featuring the exhibition organizers and the publisher of the new Baber biography.

The takeaway

This exhibition and the accompanying scholarship represent a significant moment in restoring Alice Baber's rightful place within the canon of postwar American abstract art, bringing renewed visibility to her pioneering style and contributions as a female Abstract Expressionist painter.