At David Zwirner London, Flavin, Judd, McCracken, Ryman, Sandback (until 22 May 2026) brings together five key figures of postwar Minimalism. This private gallery show is one of the best at the moment in London. Featuring works by Dan Flavin, Donald Judd, John McCracken, Robert Ryman and Fred Sandback, this remarkable exhibition highlights how these artists redefined sculpture and painting from the 1960s onwards. The architecture of the gallery, of course, plays a vital role in the presentation of the show.

The installation focuses on how each work relates to space. Flavin’s fluorescent light pieces extend beyond the object, casting coloured light across the gallery. Judd’s geometric forms remain direct and self-contained, with no suggestion of metaphor. McCracken’s polished planks lean against the wall, sitting somewhere between painting and sculpture. Ryman’s works, often seen as monochrome, reveal close attention to surface, material and support. Sandback uses simple lines of red coloured yarn to define space, creating volumes that are only visible through the viewer’s movement.

Rather than treating Minimalism as a historical moment, the exhibition shows how these ideas still feel relevant today, especially in the way artists think about perception and space. Colour also plays an important role here, from the strong light of Flavin’s works to the subtle shifts in the gestural and stunning Ryman’s paintings.

The gallery is used with restraint, allowing each work to stand on its own while also relating to the space around it. The result is a measured and balanced presentation, where the viewer becomes more aware of their own movement through the exhibition.

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