Thomas Schütte: A Refreshing Retrospective on MoMA’s Sixth Floor

On the often disregarded sixth floor of the Museum of Modern Art, a career-spanning retrospective of Thomas Schütte offers a surprising and invigorating counterpoint to the museum’s familiar permanent collection. Running through January 18, 2025, this exhibition is a must-see for anyone seeking to immerse themselves in one of the most compelling bodies of contemporary art. For those who have grown accustomed to the tried-and-true trails of MoMA’s permanent galleries, Schütte’s retrospective provides an unanticipated breath of fresh air in New York.

Thomas Schütte Early Career

A towering figure in contemporary art, Thomas Schütte’s career defies easy categorization. From sculptures to watercolors, architectural experiments to prints, his work probes deeply into aesthetics, history, and the human condition. The retrospective, organized by Paulina Pobocha and Caitlin Chaisson, reveals Schütte’s extraordinary ability to oscillate between the intimate and the monumental, the playful and the profound. This marks the first U.S. survey of Schütte’s work in over two decades, an overdue moment for an artist whose contributions are as varied as they are essential.

The exhibition opens with Schütte’s early works, created during his time at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf under the tutelage of Gerhard Richter. These pieces challenge the rigid formalism of Minimalism and Conceptual art while engaging with broader cultural and historical narratives. Here, Schütte’s knack for juxtaposition becomes evident—his works traverse time, folding the historical into the contemporary with a dexterity that few artists achieve. Visitors are immediately struck by how Schütte’s seemingly disparate mediums—figurative sculptures, architectural maquettes, and intimate sketches—share a thematic unity that interrogates the relationships between art, society, and memory.

Schütte Sculptures

One of the most captivating elements of the retrospective is Schütte’s figurative sculpture. His monumental works, like the “United Enemies” series, are imbued with both humor and unease, confronting the viewer with grotesque yet relatable characters that seem to reflect the fractures of modern society. These sculptures contrast beautifully with his quieter, more introspective pieces, such as his watercolors and architectural models. In these smaller-scale works, Schütte invites the viewer into a deeply personal space, revealing his profound engagement with form and materiality.

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The retrospective doesn’t merely showcase Schütte’s technical range—it underscores his intellectual rigor. Each piece acts as a node in a larger conversation, linking personal expression to universal questions. The architectural experiments, for example, evoke themes of shelter, impermanence, and the interplay between public and private spaces. Whether through monumental bronze sculptures or delicate watercolors, Schütte’s works consistently blur boundaries, asking us to reconsider the roles of art and artist.

MoMA’s sixth floor has rarely felt so invigorating. Too often overlooked, the space comes alive in this retrospective, proving it can rival the more trafficked lower floors in terms of curatorial brilliance. The Steven and Alexandra Cohen Center for Special Exhibitions has been transformed into a haven for those willing to stray from MoMA’s well-trodden paths. The layout invites exploration, with Schütte’s works creating moments of unexpected discovery around every corner.

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View Gallery 9 images

Thomas Schütte retrospective challenges and delights in equal measure. With only a month remaining, it’s a clarion call to art lovers: ascend to MoMA’s sixth floor, and let Schütte’s singular vision remind you of the boundless possibilities of contemporary art.