Global contemporary art events and news observed from New York City. Suggestion? Email us.

New York – Wade Guyton at Petzel Gallery Through February 22nd, 2014

Tuesday, January 28th, 2014


Wade Guyton, (Installation View), via Art Observed

Seven years have passed since Wade Guyton exhibited a solo show at New York’s Petzel Gallery, an expanse of time that has seen the artist capping a mid-career retrospective at The Whitney Museum, and entering the upper echelons of the American art canon.  Whether intentionally or not, Guyton’s exhibition of new works manages to address the passage of time and his increased status in the international art world through a minimalist series of linen prints, created using the same files from his last show at the gallery.


Wade Guyton (detail), via Art Observed (more…)

New York – Jon Rafman: “You Are Standing in an Open Field” at Zach Feuer Gallery Through October 26th, 2013

Thursday, October 24th, 2013


Jon Rafman, I am alone but not lonely, (2013), via Zach Feuer

The artist Jon Rafman continually explores processes of archiving and history-making, storytelling and expression online, trawling the deeper recesses of gaming and message board communities to explore how these groups express senses of their own identities, their own mythologies, and their own senses of being.  It’s this sense of recording and presentation that marks Rafman’s current show at Zach Feuer, which sees the artist examining the shared sense of history and presentation for various communities through written dialogues, amateur film, and image.

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Phillips to Hold Digital Art Auction

Tuesday, September 24th, 2013

Phillips has announced plans for a first-ever digital art auction, held this October 10th in New York, featuring a number of online works including one website, a YouTube video and a number of digital files able to be exhibited on a number of different devices.  Featuring work by artists Brenna MurphyAddie Wagenknecht and Clement Valla, the auction is curated by Lindsay Howard of Bushwick’s 319 Scholes gallery. (more…)

London – Bill Viola: “Frustrated Actions and Futile Gestures” at Blain Southern Gallery through July 27th, 2013

Tuesday, July 9th, 2013


Bill Viola, Chapel of Frustrated Actions and Futile Gestures (Detail) (2013), via Blain Southern

Several new works by American video artist Bill Viola are currently being hosted by the Blain Southern gallery in London through July 27. Viola is considered a leading voice in the field of New Media, and is known for the existential and essentialist themes that surface in his work. Drawing from Buddhist, Zen, and mystical tradition, Viola approaches human mortality and spirit through video, sound and digital installation.  (more…)

Miranda July Launches Email Project

Monday, July 8th, 2013

Artist Miranda July has launched her email project We Think Alone, a curated series of quotidian emails from celebrities, artists, and other public figures on a variety of themes.  Including emails from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lena Dunham, Kristen Dunst, Etgar Keret and more, the piece welcomes an intimate peek into the sender’s day to day life.  “Privacy, the art of it, is evolving. Radical self-exposure and classically manicured discretion can both be powerful, both be elegant. And email itself is changing, none of us use it exactly the same way we did ten years ago; in another ten years we might not use it at all.”  Says July. (more…)

To Increase Visitorship, Museums Turn to Digital Distribution

Wednesday, May 29th, 2013

In an effort to increase public engagement with their collections, a number of museums are now offering free, high-quality images of their works for download and open use. In one such example, Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum has begun allowing visitors to reproduce images of its collection anywhere.“We’re a public institution, and so the art and objects we have are, in a way, everyone’s property.” Says collections director Taco Dibbets. (more…)

AO Preview – Venice: The 55th Venice Biennale, June 1st-November 24th, 2013

Tuesday, May 28th, 2013


The Venice Biennale

Every two years, the floating city of Venice floods with with the multitudes of art visitors, customers, gallerists and exhibitions that are all a part of the Venice Biennale. This year, marking the 55th edition of the world’s largest art fair, sees the continuation of an event that first began in 1896. Between June 1st and November 24th over 300,000 visitors will travel to Venice for the expansive installations of exhibitions of work from artists in 88 nations, at both official and fringe sites. Art Observed will be on-site this week, with photos from variety of events around the city.

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‘Out of Memory’ at Marianne Boesky Gallery through May 18,2013

Friday, May 17th, 2013


Out of Memory (Installation View), courtesy of Marianne Boesky Gallery

Marianne Boesky Gallery is currently hosting a group exhibition titled Out of Memory, curated by Eleanor Cayre and including works by artists: AIDS-3D, Cory Arcangel, Nicolas Deshayes, Aleksandra Domanovic, Gardar Eide Einarsson, Louis Eisner, Roe Ethridge, Matias Faldbakken, Guyton/Walker, Yngve Holen, Alex Israel, Rashid Johnson, Josh Kline, Mark Leckey and many more, exploring ideas of production and presentation in a post-digital society.
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New York – Thomas Ruff: “photograms and m.a.r.s.” at David Zwirner Through April 27th, 2013

Friday, April 26th, 2013


Thomas Ruff, phg.03, (2012), via David Zwirner

David Zwirner’s 19th Street Gallery spaces in Chelsea are currently exhibiting a selection of recent works by German photographer Thomas Ruff, showcasing the artist’s ongoing inquiries into digital interjections into the photo making process, and his studies on natural phenomena filtered through the lens of digital photography.


Thomas Ruff, photograms (Installation View), via David Zwirner (more…)

Doug Aitken Prepares Digital Land Art Installation for Seattle Art Museum

Tuesday, March 5th, 2013

Artist Doug Aitken is currently preparing to unveil a “digital land artwork” at the Seattle Art Museum.  Titled Mirror, the work consists of thin strips of LED lights and digital video of Seattle and the surrounding regions, and will be on view for the public beginning on March 24th.  “Land art from the 1960s and 1970s exists in remote locations. I was interested in creating something very urban,” Aitken says.  (more…)