The period around 1960 was one of great artistic evolution in the United States. The long-standing influence exerted by Abstract Expressionism, a gestural type of painting and sculpture that emerged after World War II, was dwindling. Artists coming of age at this time perceived the style as mannered and academic and sought to distance themselves from its pervasive legacy. This resulted in a gradual shift in artistic approaches and philosophical attitudes. The works in this installation demonstrate both the lingering hallmarks of Abstract Expressionism and the precursors to these new artistic directions.