Tacita Dean's "Blind Folly" Exhibition at the Columbus Museum of Art

Tacita Dean's exhibition, "Blind Folly," currently on display at the Columbus Museum of Art in Columbus, Ohio, showcases a diverse array of her artistic works, emphasizing the process of drawing and the ephemeral nature of art. The exhibition features monumental pieces, including "The Montafon Letter," a large-scale blackboard drawing that narrates a historical avalanche in the Austrian Alps, illustrating Dean's unique approach to storytelling through visual art.

New York Observer

Dean's work is characterized by her innovative use of materials and techniques. The exhibition includes a series of 12 drawings created during a total solar eclipse, known as "The Eclipse Drawings," where she utilized a photochemical camera to capture the moment without knowing the outcome. Additionally, her "Sublunaries and Locomotive Drawings" are enamel drawings on found tarnished steam train windows, which she discovered in her family home. These pieces connect the history of locomotion with the advent of film, reflecting Dean's interest in the passage of time and memory.

New York Observer

Michelle White, the senior curator at the Menil Collection, where "Blind Folly" was first exhibited, highlighted the significance of Dean's process in her work. White noted that the exhibition represents a "labor of making through time," emphasizing the human connection inherent in the act of drawing. She described Dean's work as a "drawing show in the most expansive sense," where the intimacy of small marks is elevated to monumental levels.

New York Observer

The exhibition is designed to allow viewers to engage with the artwork without distractions; there are no labels on the walls, and each gallery provides an information sheet detailing the title, year, and medium of the works. This approach encourages a more profound contemplation of the art itself.

New York Observer

While the exhibition has been praised for its innovative approach and the depth of Dean's artistic process, some critics may argue that the lack of wall labels could hinder the understanding of the works for some visitors. However, the intention behind this design choice is to create an unencumbered space for experiencing the art.

New York Observer

"Tacita Dean: Blind Folly" will be on display at the Columbus Museum of Art until March 8, 2026. The exhibition continues to draw attention for its exploration of drawing as a fundamental artistic practice and its reflection on the transient nature of both art and life.

New York Observer

• “It’s a labor of making through time,” — Michelle White, Senior Curator

New York Observer

• “a drawing show in the most expansive sense of thinking through what constitutes drawing and its fundamentals. Tacita’s work does that. Monumentally does that. She maintains the sort of intimacy of the little mark, but she does it to new levels.” — Michelle White, Senior Curator

New York Observer

• “It’s a love letter to the simple beauty of making a mark and drawing a picture, the ease and aptitude of the rapidity of what he was doing.” — Michelle White, Senior Curator

New York Observer

• “You get this awe-inspiring representation of a mountain or a cloud, but you’re held at the same time in a captivating way by the act of making by a human being with a small piece of chalk in her hand.” — Michelle White, Senior Curator

New York Observer