Barbara Kruger. Untitled (I shop, therefore I am), 1987. Photographic silkscreen on vinyl; 111 x 113 inches. Courtesy of Mary Boone Gallery, New York.
This week was all politics for Art21 roster artists. More than 130 artists and critics including Cindy Sherman, Richard Serra, Joan Jonas, Barbara Kruger, Trevor Paglen, and Julie Mehretu have signed a petition calling for cultural institutions to close on the day of President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration, Friday, January 20. While some are skeptical of the strike’s potential impact, others argue that it’s a necessary statement against “normalizing” the new president, while others purport that the proposed strike is only sowing seeds of divisiveness.
Also this week:
- Laurie Anderson and Lawrence Weiner were announced as the winners of the $100,000 Wolf Prize.
Events & exhibitions
NYC
- REJOICE! OUR TIMES ARE INTOLERABLE: Jenny Holzer’s Street Posters 1977-1982 opens at Alden Projects this Friday, January 13 and continues through February 12. [Read a review in the New York Times.]
- January 11-17—Everybody Knows… Elizabeth Murray is playing for one week only as part of this year’s Film Forum.
Washington D.C.
- Wednesday, January 11 | 6:30pm—The Hirschorn is hosting a “Meet the Artists” panel discussion with Imran Qureshi, Pat Steir, and Season 8’s Nick Cave.
SF
- Saturday, January 14 | 8pm—Trevor Paglen will be performing a new work titled Sight Machine for one night only at Historic Pier 70. Created in collaboration with Kronos Quartet, the piece “explores the way machines see and interpret the experience of watching a musical performance.” Get tickets.
LA
- A new solo exhibition by Season 8 artist Theaster Gates, But To Be A Poor Race, is opening this Saturday at Regen Projects. The artist and the executive director of LAXART, Hamza Walker, will be at the gallery for a conversation about Gates’ work this Sunday, January 15 at 2pm.
London
- A new series of work by John Baldessari goes on view tomorrow at Marian Goodman Gallery. Miró and Life in General pairs details from Miró paintings with Hollywood film stills, and is on view through February 25.
- This is the last week to see William Kentridge’s exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery. Thick Time closes this Sunday, January 15. [Read a review in the Evening Standard.]
- A new group exhibition brings together work by Paul McCarthy, Carrie Mae Weems, Shana Moulton, Arlene Shechet, and others. 5 Years at Heddon Street is on view at Pippy Houldsworth Gallery through February 4.
Cape Town, South Africa
- Goodman Gallery’s Summer Show, featuring artists Alfredo Jaar and Shirin Neshat among others is ending its month-long run this Saturday, January 14.
It’s impossible to include all the incredible exhibitions and art events happening this week in a single post. If there’s something you feel should have been included in today’s roundup, leave a comment below!