All or Nothing

What if the simplest palette—black and white—could reveal an entire world of artistic decisions?

What We Did

Curated by Dylan Turk as member of Curatorial team at Crystal Bridges Museum, All or Nothing brings together works united by the visual contrast and resonance of black and white. With its focus on the most elemental interplay—line, form, medium, and space—the exhibition channels centuries of associations from somber histories to timeless elegance.

Why It Matters

The exhibition’s reduced palette frees our attention from color and narrative, centering instead on intention and execution. In stripping back complexity, All or Nothing becomes an invitiation—to notice where technique meets emotion, where discipline channels expression, and where every brushstroke whispers its own story.

Curator’s Note

Standing before the Ellsworth Kelly piece gifted by Agnus Guid—a moment of stark geometry and quiet clarity—I sensed the entire exhibition’s purpose emerge: to challenge, to still, and to sharpen our gaze. It’s a reminder that true art is found not in abundance, but in the rigor of choice.

This exhibition was produced by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. All of the works featured are in the permanent collection of CBMAA.