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34 HOMECOMING BY LISA COLLINS SHADDOCK T he Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth's exhibi- tion "Robyn O'Neil: We, The Masses" (through February 9, 2020) is a 20-year survey of the American artist's work — a span covering nearly half her life. Contrary to the stormy weather that inspires her work — mostly large-scale graphite drawings on paper — the night of The Modern's patron dinner celebrating O'Neil's opening was perfectly calm and beautiful. As the sun set over the reflecting pool outside the Tadao Ando-designed building's windows, O'Neil gave a heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in her career, from her parents to the director of the Modern, Dr. Marla Price, to the exhibition's curator, Alison Hearst, who she said made her feel more appreciated, understood, and celebrated as an artist than she ever has. O'Neil also offered words of gratitude to the museum docents of the world: "Every time I see one of them talking about my work in a museum I start crying like a weirdo," she said. O'Neil, who spent her formative years in Texas, says her art education began around the age of 14, when she discovered the museums in Fort Worth and began spending as much time there as possible. The connection made her debut at the Modern all the more surreal. "I cannot believe this is really happening," she told the art-chic crowd. "If I seem odd tonight, I do think I may have died prior to finding out about this show and this is just heaven for me." SEEN: Andrea Karnes, Robert Moyer, Talley Dunn, Lee Tennison, Carla and Kelly Thompson, Kim and Glenn Darden, Leah Becoats, Omari Henry, Susan Inglett, David Platzker, Michael Corman and Kevin Fink, Anita Nagler, Rafael Garza, Sonya and Amar Tanna, Stuart and Shannon Schultz, Tyler Green, Damien Jurado, and Marsha and John Kleinheinz. THE MODERN ART MUSEUM OF FORT WORTH PATRON DINNER CELEBRATING ARTIST ROBYN O'NEIL Marsha & John Kleinheinz, Dr. Marla Price Robyn O'Neil, Alison Hearst Lee Tennison, Susan Inglett, David Platzker James O'Neil, Marty O'Neil, Wendy O'Neil, Gay O'Neil Talley Dunn Rafael Garza, Andrea Karnes, Rachael Cozad Kelly & Carla Thompson, Kim & Glenn Darden Michael Corman, Robert Moyer, Anita Nagler, Kevin Fink Stuart & Shannon Schultz