For the last twenty years of his life, Cy Twombly returned annually to Lexington, his hometown in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. As evidence of his attachment, he bought a house, and during extended visits in both spring and fall, he created a number of important works in modest studios he rented nearby. In large part, however, he spent his days observing the rhythms of the small college town, taking long reflective drives in the countryside, and exploring entertainments with a small circle of acquaintances. One of those was photographer Rob McDonald.

Over the years, McDonald made hundreds of photographs of home and storefront studio in Lexington’s downtown, typically with the artist himself present. There was not much conversation during those times, but when McDonald shared the images with Twombly, he always seemed curious to see what had caught the photographer’s eye.

For this exhibition, McDonald returns to a series of photo-based works begun in the months after Twombly’s death in 2011.