Artists have long been inspired by the themes of the carnival and the circus. They often identify with the craft, the courage, and the sometimes marginal existence of circus and carnival performers. The carnival is a unique social space where attitudes and behaviors that might be unacceptable in “polite society” are allowed to thrive. Artists occupy a similar marginal space, separate from social conventions.
Drawing on this colorful, subversive, and often provocative world, Jeffrey Deitch has invited artist Joe Coleman to curate Carnival, an exhibition opening on May 3 at our 18 Wooster Street gallery. The artists featured in the show engage with themes of spectacle, rebellion, and free expression in unexpected and thought-provoking ways. As Coleman describes: “I believe that the carnival is a kind of profane, holy place where the private desires, fantasies, and fears of a society are given uninhibited free expression. This expression produced unique works of art to embody this mysterious part of ourselves. I have long been fascinated by these works, and in this show, I explore the many forms that this expression takes—from the amazing banners produced for side shows and crime shows, the spectacular costumes of the burlesque house, the Mardi Gras, and the art parade. The influence extends to puppet show figures, whose roots trace back to ancient theater, the wax figures that evolved from medieval votive saints to the criminal and celebrity effigies of the sideshow museum, and even the miniature and flea circuses.”
While the exhibition includes numerous contemporary artists whose work draws from the carnivalesque, Coleman has also invited his “family of friends” from burlesque and sideshow communities to contribute. This blending of artistic voices creates a dynamic and immersive celebration of these rebellious and theatrical subcultures.
Artists participating in the exhibition include Derrick Adams, John Ahearn, Diana Yesenia Alvarado, Henry Alvarez, Mario Ayala, Elias Baeck, Bambi the Mermaid, Ana Benaroya, Matthias Buchinger, Camille2000, Nadia Lee Cohen, Joe Coleman, George Condo, Danny Cortes, Karon Davis, Raúl de Nieves, Guillermo del Toro, Jane Dickson, Tom Duncan, John Dunivant, Celeste Dupuy-Spencer, Johnny Eck, Mike Elizalde, Chris ‘DAZE’ Ellis, Isaac Psalm Escoto, Scott Ewalt, Walton Ford, Mark Frierson, Mr. Gorgeous, Red Grooms, Anne Imhof, Jamian JulianoVillani, Laura Kaplan, KAWS, Austin Lee, Randal Levenson, Patrick McDonnell, Johnny Meah, Elberto ‘SLUTO’ Muller, Narcissister, Theophilus Nii Anum Sowah, Mu Pan, Kembra Pfahler, Liz Renay, Ari Roussimoff, M. Santaguida, Peter Saul, Kenny Scharf, Jim Shaw, Alake Shilling, Garo Sparo, Al Stencell, Mickalene Thomas, Rigoberto Torres, Fannie Tunison, Chuck Varga, Whitney Ward, Marnie Weber, Weegee, Jo Weldon, Robert Williams, Karl Wirsum, August Wolfinger, and Snap Wyatt.