Roughly 130 works trace Lichtenstein from early-1940s experiments to the 1990s, with Look Mickey, Girl with Ball, Masterpiece, Drowning Girl and Happy Tears hanging together. The show also reunites, for the first time, every work from his 1962 Leo Castelli debut, alongside Louise Lawler, Richard Pettibone and Sturtevant. If you want one blockbuster to anchor a museum day downtown, this is it.
What to expect
The fifth-floor galleries open with the comic-panel canvases everyone recognizes, then widen out into collage, sculpture, prints and film. A recreated Greene Street Mural runs nearly 96 feet along one wall. A second, focused show, Roy Lichtenstein: 1997, sits on the third floor if you want the late Bellagio-era work as well.
Good to know
- Take the A/C/E or L to 14th Street, then walk west toward Gansevoort Street.
- Weekend midday is the crush; a weekday morning gets you the Castelli reunion room almost alone.
- Book advance timed tickets online — walk-up slots for marquee shows regularly run out.
- Pair it with Roy Lichtenstein: 1997 on the third floor, which is included with the same entry.
- All gallery floors are step-free and wheelchair accessible, and the outdoor terraces are worth the detour.
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Common questions
How many works are in the exhibition?
Roughly 130, spanning the early 1940s through the 1990s, across painting, drawing, collage, prints, sculpture and film.
Are the famous comic paintings included?
Yes — Look Mickey, Girl with Ball, Masterpiece, Drowning Girl and Happy Tears are all on view, along with Rouen Cathedral, Set III.
Is there a second Lichtenstein show at the Whitney?
Yes. Roy Lichtenstein: 1997, a focused look at his final year, is on the third floor.
More this weekend
