Leon Polk Smith
Open Composition

Open Composition

© Estate of Leon Polk Smith/ Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY

Open Composition
Open Composition
ArtistAmerican, 1906–1996
CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Open Composition
Date1946
PlaceUnited States
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions52 × 28 in. (132.1 × 71.1 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by bequest of Edward B. Mayo
Object number2006.146
Not on view

Explore Further

Object Type
ProvenanceEstate of the artist; [Washburn Gallery, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 2006.

Exhibition History"Leon Polk Smith: Paintings 1945-1950," Washburn Gallery, New York, September 22–October 30, 1982.

"Leon Polk Smith: Cattlebrands and Columns," Washburn Gallery, New York, March 30–April 29, 2000.

"Leon Polk Smith," Arithmeum, Bonn, September 4, 2001–January 13, 2002.

"Constructing Abstraction: Selections from the Permanent Collection," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, May 20–September 23, 2007.

"Modern Art from the Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City, December 12, 2007–April 6, 2008.

"American Made: 250 Years of American Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, July 7, 2012–January 2, 2013.

"The Marzio Years: Transforming the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1982–2010," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, October 25, 2020–January 10, 2021.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Etched into the surface of the image, lower right: "Leon P Smith 46"

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Correspondence:  Blue-Yellow
Leon Polk Smith
1963
Oil on canvas
98.245
Untitled (Night Sky No. 2)
Philip Smith
2022
Oil pastel, colored pencil, and gesso on canvas
2022.128
Circle and Parts on a Central Column
David Smith
1959
Spray enamel and oil on canvas
96.764
Snubs Money for Love
Hassel Smith
1959
Oil on canvas
66.14
Four Minute Mile
Hassel Smith
1954
Oil on canvas
2006.197
In the Eye of Rebellion
Lee N. Smith III
1984
Oil on canvas
86.398
Composition with Grid #1
Piet Mondrian
1918
Oil on canvas
63.16
Composition in Blue
Serge Poliakoff
c. 1964
Tempera on canvas
73.251
lick your teeth, they so clutch
Rachel Jones
2021
Oil pastel and oil stick on canvas
2021.433
Circostanza eroica (Heroic Situation)
Enzo Cucchi
1981
Oil on zinc, oil on canvas
2018.286.A,.B
Untitled
Paul Mogensen
1966–1978
Oil and stand oil on canvas
78.230
Playing Shepherd
c. 1970
Oil and sand on canvas
71.64