A Fine Line features approximately one-third of the 300 drawings in the Old Jail Art Center’s permanent collection. Spanning the seventeenth to twenty-first centuries, this exhibition showcases a broad range of both artists and media.

Works by 71 artists, from internationally recognized Amedeo Modigliani, John Sloan, and Andy Warhol to the talented artists of the Fort Worth Circle, are brought together to underscore the diversity of the collection. A Fine Line also highlights the OJAC’s impressive holdings of works by contemporary artists, alongside those underappreciated in the artistic canon.

While the majority of works are on paper, novel substrates of wax, plywood, cloth, and faux ivory are also introduced. Mark making ranges from conventional graphite, ink, and pastel to the use of copper, soot, and even flames. As such, this exhibition challenges long-held hierarchies and expands our understanding of what constitutes a drawing.

Certainly, drawing is no longer just a precursor to other types of visual art. The singular works in this exhibition offer not only compelling images but creative entry points into meaningful conversations. Drawing’s ability to transcend a fixed set of materials and conventions has ensured the art form’s vitality and power to stimulate change.