Donald Judd first met curator Brydon Smith in 1968 when Smith was organizing the exhibition ‘fluorescent light, etc., from Dan Flavin’ for which Judd contributed the essay ‘Aspects of Flavin’s Work.’ Smith and Judd would later work together on Judd’s first international retrospective exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada in 1975. The accompanying publication was both an exhibition catalogue and a catalogue raisonné of Judd’s work, the ‘Donald Judd: Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings, Objects, and Wood-Blocks 1960-1974,’ edited by Dudley Del Balso, Roberta Smith, and Smith. “Here was an artist who definitely changed what I had accepted as art, and he did it by simple addition and subtraction. He rejected the usual way of composing non-representational art by adding his own kind of clarity to art making,” Smith wrote in the publication foreword. He concluded “I am looking forward to having the opportunity of comparing Judd’s published criticism and articles about art and artists with his own offerings as an artist. I believe this juxtaposition will reinforce the assured development of his work and will underline the early understanding Judd had about the implications of his art.” After the exhibition, Judd wrote to then director, Jean Sutherland Boggs: “I’ve never been involved in an enterprise so serious and well done and don’t expect to again. Most of the time, I feel used by institutions; there was none of that. The chance to make some new pieces was important. . . .The show looked fine and nothing was demolished. Thanks for the book and the show. I’m happy about the whole thing. Don Judd.” Prior to the 1975 exhibition, the National Gallery of Canada held five works by Judd. Today, its collection holds fourteen sculptures, two paintings, thirty prints and drawings, and a bench by Judd. In memory of the life and vision of Brydon Smith (1938-2022). Image: Donald Judd and Brydon Smith, 1975. Courtesy Ann Thomas; Installation view, ‘Donald Judd,’ The National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Canada, May 24 - July 6, 1975. Photo Brian Merrett. Donald Judd Art © Judd Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.