Weekly Roundup

kiki_smith

Kiki Smith, Noctua, Corvus, Hydra, Filis, 2013. Ink on Nepal paper with mica and methylcellulose glue. Photo: Ian Douglas

In this week’s roundup Kiki Smith unveils a new mural, Rashid Johnson makes his solo debut in Switzerland, Lari Pittman lectures at UCLA, and more.

  • Kiki Smith has unveiled her site-specific commission for New York Live Arts (NYC). Noctua, Corvus, Hydra, Filis occupies a prominent wall in the venue’s lobby, and is also visible from the street. The monumental mural features Hydra, the water snake (the largest constellation in the sky), with Corvus, the crow, Noctua, the owl, and Filis, the cat. Smith says, “These images were directly informed by the famous astrological engravings of Jehoshaphat Aspin.” On view through May 2014.
  • Rashid Johnson’s first solo exhibition in Switzerland is on view at Hauser & Wirth Zürich. The Gathering comprises over a dozen new works including sculpture, painting and video. For this exhibition, Johnson will unveil a new series of abstract portraits that he refers to as “characters.” Closes December 21.
  • Mike Kelley’s three Mobile Homestead films will screen in independent cinemas across London (UK). The documentary-style films chart the voyage of Mobile Homestead—a replica of the artist’s childhood home—from downtown Detroit, to the original Kelley home, and back again. The London screenings coincide with a major survey of Kelley’s work at MoMA PS1 (NYC), which continues through February 2, 2014.
  • Lari Pittman will speak at UCLA (Los Angeles, CA) as part of the Visiting Artists Lecture Series. Pittman will discuss his layered paintings and works on papers that have been exhibited nationally and internationally. The event will take place November 6 at 7:30pm. Pittman’s solo exhibition, From A Late Western Impaerium, opens November 9 at Regen Projects in Los Angeles.
  • Roni Horn’s exhibition at Hauser & Wirth’s West Chelsea space (NYC) opens November 11. Everything was sleeping as if the universe were a mistake will fill the gallery with large format drawings and two multi-part sculptures that continue Horn’s exploration of the nature of perception, memory, and identity. Runs through January 11, 2014.