Masterpieces from the William Rubin Collection: Dialogue of the Tribal and the Modern and its Heritage

The book of the Rubin Collection exhibition commemorates the 50th anniversary of the death of Pablo Picasso.

This monograph celebrates William Rubin (1927-2006) and his impact on the world of modern art. Renowned as the Director of Painting and Sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art from 1967 to 1988, Rubin is remembered for his unprecedented acquisitions for MoMA’s collection and the ground-breaking exhibitions that showcased them, accompanied by monographs that have become essential readings to art students and historians. In contrast to previous volumes, this publication focuses on Rubin’s private collection, providing rare introspections on how he lived, what he wrote, and the objects with which he surrounded himself. The 400-page book accompanies a traveling international exhibition of the collection, and is sumptuously illustrated with full-page plates and details. Portrayals of his personal relationships written by artists Frank Stella and Richard Serra, art historians Francis Naumann, Fred Lamp, Bernard de Grunne, and Ulf Küster, writer Adam Gopnik, and fellow collector Ronald Lauder all contribute to our understanding of Rubin’s vision. Phyllis Hattis Rubin, art historian and wife of Rubin, contributes the principal essay: “Living with Bill: an Artful and Art-filled Life.”