A survey of the state of contemporary art in America, the biennial features emerging and established artists whose work spans a wide-range of mediums, from painting, drawing, sculpture and photography to music, film, performance, activism, and video game design. African American artists Lyle Ashton Harris, Deana Lawson, Pope.L, and Henry Taylor, are among the participants in this year’s exhibition.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial is organized by Christopher Y. Lew, an associate curator at the museum, and independent curator Mia Locks. The pair traveled extensively, visiting artists, curators and galleries, viewing work, projects and performances to determine the exhibition’s roster.
“Throughout our research and travel we’ve been moved by the impassioned discussions we had about recent tumult in society, politics, and the economic system. It’s been unavoidable as we met with artists, fellow curators, writers, and other cultural producers across the United States and beyond,” Lew said in a museum statement. Locks noted: “Against this backdrop, many of the participating artists are asking probing questions about the self and the social, and where these intersect. How do we think and live through these lenses? How and where do they fall short?”
