Henri Matisse ’ s complex , multifaceted art has provided a liberating model for American artists ’ varied explorations of vibrant color , strong , fluid lines , and clear compositional structures in their pursuits of self-expression . Featuring 65 paintings , archival objects , sculpture , prints , and works on paper , Matisse and American Art will juxtapose 19 works by Matisse with 44 works by American artists , including Roy Lichtenstein , Patrick Henry Bruce , and Andy Warhol . Matisse ’ s transformative impact on their works is revealed not only by their adaptations of his palette and pictorial structures but also through their choice and appropriation of his subject matter — still lifes , landscapes , figurative works , studio interiors , and portraits . While previous projects have illuminated Matisse ’ s relationship with postwar artists , this will be the first exhibition to expand Matisse ’ s impact beyond the typical focus upon the New York School by extending it back to the beginning of the 20th century and forward to the 21st . “ This show was five years in the making ,” commented lead curator Dr . Gail Stavitsky . “ To help distinguish it from other Matisse-related exhibitions taking place during that period , I extended the range of artists included to the present to emphasize Matisse ’ s ongoing impact . The resulting exhibit includes a variety of artists who interpret Matisse ’ s singular approach to creating art in work that is simultaneously timely and timeless . For example , visitors will likely note that the featured American artists ’ contributions are not imitations of Matisse ’ s complex work , but rather original art profoundly inspired by Matisse ’ s approach .”