Julian Schnabel dizzying rise to fame in the 1980s marked a revival of representation and the medium of painting itself. He quickly became the star of his generation for the striking personality, his use of unconventional media, and the quantity and scale of his work. Schnabel's ability to add personal, emotional content to his art and to pay homage to his sources and inspirations demonstrates a sensitivity otherwise concealed by his larger-than-life public image. Schnabel was the subject of a mid-career survey at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1987.