Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea

Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea explores the enduring friendship and artistic exchange among American artists Milton Avery, Adolph Gottlieb, and Mark Rothko. Focusing on summers the three artists spent in Gloucester, Massachusetts, on Cape Ann, and in other coastal settings, the exhibition considers how shared experiences and mutual support shaped their work.

The presentation brings together approximately 90 paintings, drawings, and watercolors created from the 1920s through the mid-1960s. Many of the works have never previously been shown to the public. The exhibition also examines the artists’ relationships and their influence on one another in depth for the first time.

When: October 24, 2026–January 24, 2027

Venue: The Phillips Collection

Tickets: Included with general admission; free for members

Artists: Milton Avery, Adolph Gottlieb, and Mark Rothko

Works: Approximately 90 paintings, drawings, and watercolors dating from the 1920s to the mid-1960s, including many works that have not previously been on public view

Focus: The artists’ friendship, artistic exchange, summers in Gloucester and elsewhere, and the support they provided one another

Curator: Eliza Rathbone, guest curator

Phillips coordinating curator: Renée Maurer, associate curator

Organization: Organized by the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester, Massachusetts, in partnership with The Phillips Collection

Catalogue: An accompanying exhibition catalogue includes contributions from leading scholars and members of the artists’ families, offering additional perspective on their friendship and its impact on their work.