political art

June 2, 2021 by Susan Isaacs

Sonya Clark disentangles America’s racist history at the National Museum of Women in the Arts

Artblog contributor Susan Isaacs visits ‘Sonya Clark: Tatter, Bristle, and Mend,’ the first survey of Sonya’a 25-year career. The exhibition (which Susan calls “life changing”) examines America’s history of racial violence and oppression. It is currently on view at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. through June 27, 2021.

April 11, 2019 by Andrea Kirsh

Artists united by opposition in ‘Artists Respond, American Artists and the Vietnam War 1965-1975’ at Smithsonian American Art Museum

Andrea Kirsh reviews “Artists Respond: American Artists and the Vietnam War 1965-1975” at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, on view from March 15, 2019 – August 18, 2019.

February 25, 2019 by Samuel Brown

Artists’ fundraiser Prints for Protest at Second State Press helps many of today’s protest groups

Sam Brown sees a provocative show at Second State Press of printed posters made by the group “Prints for Protest.” He appreciates how many different ways artists in the show connect with protest issues alive today.

January 11, 2019 by Dave Kyu

Can you chase a trend with your art but stay true to yourself?

In this Ask Artblog column, Dave Kyu discusses the age-old question of whether or not an artist should chase a “hot” trend to make some sales or get into some “hot” exhibition. In his nuanced argument, Dave cautions about the dangers, but says basically that artists should do their soul searching and jump in if the water “feels fine.” Do you have a burning question about the art life? Our mailbox is always open. All questioners’ names kept anonymous. Email ask@theartblog.org or click the link to the Google form at the bottom of this post.

October 15, 2017 by Andrea Kirsh

Radical Museum Practice in Ljubljana

Artblog’s Andrea Kirsch reviews an inspired exhibition at The Modern Gallery, Museum of Modern Art, which she discovered on her recent trip to Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana. “The Heritage of 1989. Case Study: The Second Yugoslav Documents” is a recreation of a 1989 exhibit, which after nearly three decades allows audiences to witness a transitional moment in Yugoslavia’s history with a new lens.

September 3, 2017 by Michael Lieberman

Anachronism and Liberation, ambitious and engaging, at Tiger Strikes Asteroid

Michael checks out the new Tiger Strikes Asteroid space at Crane Arts, with a guest-curated group show he calls important for dealing with serious issues of our time, such as colonialism, police brutality and eco-devastation. The show’s up through Sept. 14, 2017. Make time to go.

November 22, 2015 by Andrea Kirsh

Books for the Holidays Pt. 1

Almost half the paintings Klimt made in the last 20 years of his life were landscapes, all of them done—or at least initiated—during the summer, when the artist, like all Viennese bourgeoisie, retreated to the countryside.

October 11, 2015 by Andrea Kirsh

The Cosmopolitan Art Scene in Ljubljana — Arteast 2000+ and other exhibitions of recent art

Eastern European artists whose work is known in the West—among them Marina Abramović, Miroslav Balka, Sanja Ivecović, Ilya Kabakov, and Dan Perjovschi—are diverse and extremely interesting, and passing time reveals further significant artists whose reputations have been obscured by the politics of the Cold War. There were many art scenes throughout the East, often underground.

December 11, 2014 by Andrea Kirsh

Books for holiday giving, part II

July 1, 2014 by Andrea Kirsh

The Ukrainians at the DAAD Gallery, Berlin