Carolee Schneemann, Betty Tompkins, Marilyn Minter, Thomas Lanigan- Schmidt, Pruitt & Early, Sean Landers, Cary Liebowitz (AKA Candyass), Tony Oursler, Mickalene Thomas, Simone Leigh, Christopher Winter, Carlos Betancourt, Monica Cook Artists have always had a unique capacity to be cultural provocateurs, influential in subverting conventional beliefs and redefining social and cultural norms. Since the 1960’s, contemporary art has paralleled the racial, gender, and sexual revolutions that have radically altered contemporary culture. The artists in this show all emerged within the context of these radical transformations, and have been instrumental in broadening the reach of artistic expression, notwithstanding the fact that the artists who were at the forefront of this creative “revolution” were initially criticized and in some cases shunned for pushing too far too soon. It is now clear that their provocative works were instrumental in blazing a trail for a whole new generation of works. This exhibition traces the evolution of art undertaking racial, cultural and gender differences over the last 4 decades.
The artists in this show represent a cross section of gay, straight, male and female artists from different racial and cultural backgrounds. Carolee Schneeman, Thomas Lanigan Schmidt, Marilyn Minter, and Rob Pruitt & Jack Early, are artists whose radical works in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s shocked the art world enough to cause destruction to their lives and careers, while simultaneously urging their contemporaries and a new generation of artists to take on controversial cultural issues.
Artists have always had a unique capacity to be cultural provocateurs, influential in subverting conventional beliefs and redefining social and cultural norms. Since the 1960’s, contemporary art has paralleled the racial, gender, and sexual revolutions that have radically altered contemporary culture. The artists in this show all emerged within the context of these radical transformations, and have been instrumental in broadening the reach of artistic expression, notwithstanding the fact that the artists who were at the forefront of this creative revolution” were initially criticized and in some cases shunned for pushing too far too soon. It is now clear that their provocative works were instrumental in blazing a trail for a whole new generation of works.
This exhibition traces the evolution of art undertaking racial, cultural and gender differences over the last 4 decades. The artists in this show represent a cross section of gay, straight, male and female artists from different racial and cultural backgrounds. Carolee Schneeman, Thomas Lanigan Schmidt, Marilyn Minter, and Rob Pruitt & Jack Early, are artists whose radical works in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s shocked the art world enough to cause destruction to their lives and careers, while simultaneously urging their contemporaries and a new generation of artists to take on controversial cultural issues.