Antique

Back in the 1950s and '60s, Carmen Herrera was making art, but her male counterparts were getting all of the attention. Now, at 101, she's still hard at work, and finally getting some long overdue recognition.

For most of her career, Carmen Herrera's paintings of brightly colored geometric shapes went unnoticed, while her male counterparts — Barnett Newman, Ellsworth Kelly and Frank Stella — got plenty of attention for similar work. Herrera finally made her first sale at 89. And now, at 101, it seems she's getting her due at last. The Cuban artist's work can be seen at the Tate in London, MoMA in New York, and she has an exhibition coming to the Whitney Whitney Museum of American Art in September.

Tears streamed down Herrera's face as she viewed her art on display at a recent show at the Lisson Gallery in Manhattan. The 13 paintings and one sculpture were her first solo exhibition in the U.S. in nearly 10 years.



Carmen Herrera's recent exhibit at the Lisson Gallery was her first solo exhibition in the U.S. in nearly 10 years.

"It helps that they recognize you — that your work is not going to go to the garbage," Herrera says.


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