Top 5: Must-See Art Exhibitions in 2021
In the most challenging of times we try to focus on learning, opportunity and growth. This last year has been filled with all three. Art is an expression of ideas, feelings and culture among other things. It provides a window into personal struggles, triumph, and even greater themes on a global scale. There is a long list of exceptional shows on the art scene this year-pending COVID restrictions* being lifted, of course! We’ve narrowed it down to these five must-see exhibitions that range in theme from feminism and slavery, to examining the magic of the most iconic nightclub of all times.
#5 Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now: National Gallery of Australia- Canberra, AU
What makes this exhibit so special is its spotlight on Gender Equity. It is a celebration, at the highest level, of women artists and their contributions to Australia’s cultural life. The exhibit is a commitment and call to action by the National Gallery to increase representation of women artists. Know My Name joins the global movement in recognizing and highlighting the work of women across diverse creative practices.
#4 Studio 54: Night Magic: Art Gallery of Ontario- Toronto, CA
This phenomenal time capsule made its original debut in 2020 at the Brooklyn Museum. Through photography, fashion, drawing, and film, the exhibit follows the history and social politics of THE most iconic nightclub ever. In a time post-Vietnam, amid the nationwide Civil Rights Movement and fights for LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, emerged a safe haven for expression and celebration, bringing together people of different sexual, socio-political and financial sets. The glamour and excitement behind its infamous velvet rope could never be recreated. The exhibit beautifully captures the magic of the thirty-three short months that made up Studio 54.
#3 Slavery: Rijksmuseum- Amsterdam, NL
This groundbreaking exhibition focuses, for the first time by the museum, on slavery during the Dutch colonial period. It spans the 250 year era through ten personal and very eye-opening stories from people who had different positions in the colonial system. The curators tried to incorporate stories that would provide a balance between location, gender and position. From the transatlantic to the Indian Ocean, this exhibit shines a light on this integral part of the history of the Netherlands. The goal is to acknowledge this dark side of Dutch history and raise awareness around racism near and far.
#2 The Hugo Boss Prize 2020: Deana Lawson- Guggenheim Museum- New York, U.S.A
In 2020, Deana Lawson became the first photographer to win the Hugo Boss Prize, a biennial award (administered by the Guggenheim) that honors significant achievement in contemporary art. This exhibit highlights Lawson’s unique images which explore themes of family, identity and community within global Black culture. Her work tries to access the “unseen truth” while using her subject as a vehicle to represent an entity beyond what is present. This exhibition is moving and a powerful portal into the wonderful lens of Deana Lawson.
#1 Barbara Kruger: Thinking of You. I mean Me. I mean You.: Art Institute of Chicago- Chicago, U.S.A
Four decades of work, the largest exhibition of Barbara Kruger’s perfected practice, is showcased in this exhibition. Her signature layered technique on display, revealing years of black and white images laced with provocative statements around identity politics, feminism, and the role of mass media in society. This is an unprecedented opportunity to reconsider the influential work of a courageous and clever artist like never before. The exhibit will move through New York, to London and finally finish in Los Angeles.
xo, VOOVIBE
*Some exhibitions may currently be impacted by COVID restrictions. Please confirm the status prior to purchasing tickets.