Samaras' rich and varied artistic output encompasses drawings, paintings, sculpture, installations, photographs, videos, furniture, and performances. From the late 1950s to the early 1980s, he produced over 300 pastels - an original achievement since the medium is uncommon in modern art. The group of 48 sheets donated to the Morgan by the artist and his dealer covers this entire period and represents the range of subjects and styles Samaras explored in these works. Particularly striking for their vibrant hues and for their investigation of the artist's inner life, the drawings feature kaleidoscopic color and mosaic-like patterning reminiscent of Byzantine icons, still lifes inspired by Matisse, and probing self-portraits that call to mind Van Gogh and Francis Bacon.