05/22/2026
The story of John Powers and Roy Lichtenstein…
John Powers, an avid art collector, had a good friend Roy Lichtenstein. He’d purchased some of Lichtenstein’s work, adding pieces throughout his career to his collection. Back then, and still today, Lichtenstein is greatly regarded as one of the pioneers of the Pop Art movement, alongside Andy Warhol. His rise to prominence in the 1960s with his avant garde approach to art inspired John Powers. He invited Lichtenstein, amongst other famous artists, out to stay the summer of 1965 in Aspen, Colorado, and carry out an artist’s residency.
Lichtenstein’s work returned to the Roaring Fork Valley for a show at the Aspen Institute in 1997, curated by Johns Powers himself. Lichtenstein passed away that same year, and since then, our small valley in Colorado hasn’t seen an entire exhibition of Lichtenstein’s work—until now.
The Powers Art Center will showcase from Johns and Kimiko Powers’ collection a variety of Lichtenstein’s work, along with some never-before-shown pieces in our upcoming exhibition,
Roy Lichtenstein: Beyond Reality
Opening June 2nd
