In a two-person exhibition at Soft Opening in London and PPOW in New York, artists Dean Sameshima and Felix Reynolds present works that reflect on the HIV/AIDS epidemic's impact on queer sexuality. Sameshima's "Anonymous Illness" critiques the Reagan administration's silence on the issue by using large font to emphasize the term "illness" over "anonymous". In contrast, Reynolds' work explicitly names AIDS victims in a photo tapestry of AIDS memorial quilts, drawing from his experience as an early member of ACT UP. The exhibition navigates between particular and universal experiences of queerness, often blurring the lines between biographical reading and emotional truth.
https://hyperallergic.com/980038/hunter-reynolds-and-dean-sameshima-memorials-to-queer-loss/The National Institute for Autism Awareness (NIAD) was founded by psychologist Elias Katz and his wife, artist Florence Ludins-Katz, who aimed to promote the work of artists with autism in the mainstream art world. As a result, several artists associated with NIAD have had their work represented by commercial galleries and included in museum collections, providing individuals with autism an outlet for self-expression through art.
https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/living/2024/12/31/us-artist-with-autism-holds-solo-exhibition-at-new-york039s-museum-of-modern-artThe historic photographic archive of two magazines was sold at auction in 2019 to a group of museums and foundations, which plan to digitize the collection and make it accessible to the public. The archive, representing one of the largest visual collections of African American life, contains photographs taken over most of the 20th century by publications such as Ebony and Jet magazines.
https://whyy.org/articles/african-american-museum-wheaties-art-exhibit/A new exhibition is set to open at Dundee Contemporary Arts, featuring works by artists Helen Cammock, Ingrid Pollard, and Camara Taylor. The show will run from December 7th to March 23rd, 2025.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/12/26/a-brush-with-beth-bate-director-of-dundee-contemporary-artsRita Blitt, a Midwestern artist in her 90s, continues to create work that blends color and flowing shapes on canvas. Her latest paintings revisit her lifelong love for trees. Despite being overshadowed by male artists such as Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, Blitt's contributions are now recognized through exhibitions like "Women of Abstract Expressionism" curated by Connie Gibbons at the Mulvane Art Museum. Blitt finds inspiration every day and emphasizes that her art is about the joy of creating and having the courage to listen to one's inner being.
https://hyperallergic.com/977078/rita-blitt-on-the-lifelong-art-of-creating/The Bangkok Art Biennale has drawn over 500,000 visitors with its diverse exhibits, including works by four Indian artists who are showcasing their unique feminine perspectives through various mediums such as painting and sculpture. Noted artist K. George is one of the participants, known for his fiberglass sculptures of Hijda transwomen, which highlight the beauty and depth of femininity in a striking manner.
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/culture-and-society/the-striking-feminine-faces-of-bangkok-art-biennale-1849271The Rubu' Qarn for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators has concluded its literature and arts season in the Aljada area. The event aimed to showcase the creative talents of its members, who have developed skills in writing, acting, photography, editing, directing, animation, lighting arts, and sound engineering through various programs offered by institutions such as Sharjah Children, Sharjah Youth, and Sajaya Young Ladies of Sharjah. A photo exhibition was held at three locations over the course of a week, featuring 14 films that included short films and cartoons. The event highlighted the foundation's goal of providing creative platforms for its members to showcase their innovations and nurture emerging talents in an environment that encourages creativity and innovation.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2024/12/24/jawaher-welcomes-40-youngsters-from-gcc-nations-to-sharjah-eventArtist Judy Chicago's presentation at Sharjah Biennial 16 explores the theme of art as a means to convene communities and shed light on hidden realities in today's world. Her work "In Mourning and In Rage" (1977) critiques media sensationalism and public services' handling of violence against women, while also highlighting themes of civic participation and resistance. Chicago's subsequent project, "The Crystal Quilt" (1985-1987), involved 430 women over 60 in Minnesota seated on a quilt-like rug, underscoring her focus on intimate and mass communications as channels for collective expression and solidarity.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/culture/2024/12/22/us-artist-catalyst-suzzane-lacy-on-board-for-sharjah-biennial-16The Bengal Biennale is an art exhibition that showcases a diverse range of artistic practices in Bengal, India. The event features a collective frame with various singular projects unfolding within it, allowing visitors to engage with the region's cultural practice through entangled narratives and tensions between past and present. Curator Tarini Malik praised the biennial for its poignant theme, which highlights the interconnected nature of Indian art ecology by including both historical and contemporary artists such as Jamini Roy and Rabindranath Tagore alongside artists like Sudhir Patwardhan and Dayanita Singh. The event has also drawn in new audiences from the region and beyond, with venues like Arthashila hosting exhibitions on notable figures such as Arundhati Devi.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/12/21/bengal-biennale-debuts-sprawling-inaugural-edition