Crystal Bridges acquires Roy Lichtenstein’s "Brushstroke"

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BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Crystal Bridges has announced it will install a monumental recent acquisition, Roy Lichtenstein’s Brushstroke (1996, 2002-2003), on the lawn of Heartland Whole Health Institute. Weighing almost five tons, the 32-foot-high, 20-foot-wide sculpture is a rendition of a giant brushstroke of slick white paint.

“Brushstroke has found a natural home on the Crystal Bridges Campus, where art blends with architecture, nature, wellness, and education,” said Rod Bigelow, Crystal Bridges executive director. “Set within a landscape designed to invite reflection and discovery, the work complements the trails, galleries, and gathering spaces on the campus. Brushstroke will create a moment of pause and a sense of wonder, sparking curiosity and contemplation. Ensuring this monumental work of art is on view, in a public space, reinforces Crystal Bridges’ mission to make art accessible to all.”

The outdoor Brushstroke sculpture will be placed in conversation with Lichtenstein’s Screen with Brushstrokes, which is on view inside Heartland Whole Health Institute. The screen, which is a promised gift to the Crystal Bridges collection as part of a generous gift from Candace and Michael Humphreys, highlights the interplay between painting and functional art. Both the screen and the sculpture celebrate the concept of the brushstroke as a powerful symbol of creativity and the connection between different artistic disciplines. As early as the mid-1960s, Lichtenstein (1923-1997) featured brushstrokes in both paintings and sculpture, isolating the spontaneous gesture of painters as a stylized Pop symbol.

"Brushstroke is an extraordinary addition to the Crystal Bridges Campus, and a monumental extension of the remarkable Roy Lichtenstein works already in the collection,” said Austen Barron Bailly, deputy director, curatorial and guest experience at Crystal Bridges. “Positioned to greet visitors as they arrive and make their way down to the museum, it signals what Crystal Bridges offers—art that is bold, accessible, and deeply connected to the experience of place. Brushstroke invites curiosity from the very first step onto campus.”

The work was acquired from the Hirshhorn, consistent with the collections policy established by founding donor Joseph H. Hirshhorn in 1966.

Brushstroke joins two other Lichtenstein works in the Crystal Bridges collection. Still Life with Mirror is on view in the museum’s Visions of America Galleries. Standing Explosion (Red) is on view in Crystal Bridges’ Bigelow Bridge gallery.

IMAGE CREDITS: Roy Lichtenstein, Brushstroke (1996, enlarged and fabricated 2002-2003). Photo: Rick Coulby. Roy Lichtenstein, Screen with Brushstrokes, 1986, Acrylic and gold leaf on lacquered wood relief, in 5 joined parts, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Gift from the collection of Candace P. and W. Michael Humphreys.

About Crystal Bridges

The mission of Crystal Bridges is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Since opening in 2011, the museum has welcomed more than 15 million visitors across its spaces, with no cost for admission. Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 as a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization by philanthropist Alice Walton. The museum’s expansive collection spans five centuries of American masterworks from early American to current day and is enhanced by temporary exhibitions and five miles of trails featuring public art installations from prominent artists.

The museum is nestled on 134 acres of Ozark landscape and was designed by the world-renowned Safdie Architects. A rare Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house was preserved and relocated to the museum grounds in 2015. Crystal Bridges offers public programs including lectures, performances, classes, and teacher development opportunities, and is the home of the prestigious Don Tyson Prize for the Advancement of American Art and Tyson Scholars of American Art Program. Some 558,375 school children have participated in the Willard and Pat Walker School Visit program, which provides educational experiences for school groups at no cost to the schools.

Additional museum amenities include a restaurant, gift store, library, and five miles of art and walking trails. In February 2020, the museum opened the Momentary in Downtown Bentonville (507 SE E Street), a venue for the music, art, and food of our time. Crystal Bridges’ 114,000 square foot expansion opened to the public June 6 and 7, 2026, allowing the museum to expand access for all. For more information, visit CrystalBridges.org. The museum is located at 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.

About Crystal Bridges Campus

Crystal Bridges Campus in Bentonville, Arkansas features 134 acres dedicated to art and wellness. It is home to three landmark institutions designed by acclaimed architecture firms: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Safdie Architects), Heartland Whole Health Institute (Marlon Blackwell Architects), and Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects). Envisioned by founder and philanthropist Alice Walton, the campus unites art, architecture, nature, education, and wellness to create transformative experiences that foster learning and enhance health and well-being. More than five miles of trails connect the iconic buildings, featuring art installations both inside and outside. The campus terrain varies from Ozark forest to display gardens, and includes streams, ponds, and Crystal Springs. In 2024, the campus received Arboretum accreditation. The campus is open daily from dawn to dusk. Additionally, the Momentary, an extension of Crystal Bridges, is located 1 mile south of campus.

Media Contact

media@crystalbridges.org