on view January 11–March 31, 2024 The decades of the late twentieth-century represent a unique era of artistic experimentation, innovation, and discovery, with many American artists, such as Andy Warhol, Helen Frankenthaler, Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, and Robert Indiana, pushing the boundaries of imagery, style, and materials. Their work alludes to cultural and societal shifts sweeping across the nation as it emerged from the 1960s, a time of growing consumerism, political scandals, recession, the Vietnam War, and mounting tensions with the Soviet Union. Coined the Me Generation, individuals prioritized their own needs, aspirations, and identities, often departing from the more collective ideologies of previous periods. The era witnessed the rise of countercultural factions and identity politics, including the American Indian Movement, the Gay Liberation Movement, and the second wave of feminism, which propelled conversations about individuality and autonomy to the forefront. The Me Generation’s influence reverberated across society, impacting music, literature, theater, fashion, and art, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.

Friends and Frenemies highlights thirty-six original prints by Andy Warhol, exhibited alongside over sixty works by twentieth-century artists who tested the boundaries of the established art world. The show includes examples of abstract expressionism, pop art, neo-expressionism, conceptualism, and minimalism, by an array of artists working in and around the East Coast. They redefined American art, evolving it into a conduit for personal catharsis, social justice, or experimental practice, reflecting the era’s emphasis on self-discovery and introspection. Artists of this period deliberately transcended societal norms and explored unique perspectives, defying entrenched conventions with the development of innovative styles and imagery, creating a complex tapestry that mirrored the evolving society.

The Cochran Collection is owned by Wesley and Missy Cochran of LaGrange, Georgia. The couple has devoted their lives to supporting artists and acquiring art, amassing a vast collection of works on paper representing a wide range of mediums, movements, and styles.