Frank Walter, Antiguan Polymath, at The Drawing Center

Frank Walter (1926–2009), a prolific polymath whose work was deeply rooted in the history and politics of his native Antigua, dedicated his life to capturing the world around him.

He rendered real and imagined scenes from his Caribbean homeland on modest materials he had on hand, like cardboard, paper, and Polaroids from his former photography studio. They explore myriad ideas, including race, identity, and colonial and post-colonial experiences.

His art, which spans landscapes, portraiture, cosmological abstracts, sculpture, and writings such as poems and musical scores, blends observation and mythmaking.

The Drawing Center in New York will host the artist’s first museum exhibition in the U.S. To Capture a Soul (21 June–15 September 2024) gathers Walter’s works on paper, cardboard, and wood, alongside a collection of notebooks featuring poems, music sheets, and musings.

Among paintings depicting Walter’s island surroundings, Dombeya Tree #1 (n.d.) shows a lush tropical tree against a blue sky and swirling grey sea rendered in a naturalistic but expressive style. In contrast, Self Portrait Series: Yellow Shirt (Man in Tree) (n.d.) features a figure in a yellow shirt set against a predominantly blue seascape. Despite their apparent simplicity, the works differ in tone and texture, bringing to life the painter’s surroundings.

Stephanie Bailey, writing for Ocula, described Walter’s paintings as reflecting ‘a search for worlds capable of accommodating the depth and breadth of far-reaching hopes and visions.’ She noted that he was at once a product of his time and light years ahead of it, leaving behind universes yet to be explored.

The exhibition coincides with The Drawing Center’s exhibition Josh Smith: Life Drawing, the first display of drawings by American artist Josh Smith, conceived as an homage to Walter.