In the 1950s, the late Paul Hultberg was studying at the Brooklyn Museum School, where he encountered the printmaker Walter Rogalski. Together the pair set out to answer a question: What paint medium could muralists use outdoors on building exteriors? They focused on enamel, which is durable and can survive even the harshest conditions. The next step was to paint it on a lasting material, such as copper or steel. Hultburg produced enamel in all forms—ashtrays, cigarette cases, boxes, and decorative tiles, creating 45,000 pieces in just three years. He stayed with enamel, and became one of Abstract Expressionism’s pioneers in the medium. In the first large-scale show dedicated to Hultberg since his death in 2019, the full breadth of his work is on view and includes prints, drawings, and portraiture on canvas. —Elena Clavarino