If you happen to be in town for Aspen Art Week (July 30-August 3), be sure to make time for these revelatory summertime exhibitions at Marianne Boesky, Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies, R&Company, and Anderson Ranch Arts Center.
“Curious Geometries” with Sanford Biggers, Svenja Deininger, Sarah Meyohas, and Claudia Wieser
Marianne Boesky, Aspen
Sarah Meyohas, “‘Interference #9,” 2022, © Sarah Meyohas and courtesy of Marianne Boesky Gallery.
In a luminous group show with explorative artists Sanford Biggers, Svenja Deininger, Sarah Meyohas, and Claudia Wieser, “Curious Geometries” place the hypnotic effects of the geometric at the heart of their investigations, skillfully experimenting with color, texture, and volume to echo the enduring enigmas of space and time. Biggers offers his new kaleidoscopic Codex series, in which a poetic study of African-American heritage and folk rituals is infused into hand-painted ceramic tiles which evoke the beauty and power of antique quilts.
Deininger delivers into the nuances of our physical environment, bringing paintings that commence with an abstract figure and evolve with the thorough application and eventual peeling away of primer, paint, and varnish to produce works that highlight the magnificence of organic shapes. The elegant results expose no brushstrokes, unveiling only a sensual work of peaceful designs.
What we love: Meyohas probes the far reaches of artificial reality without the use of digital tools but rather uplifting holographic technology discovered in the 1940s to create the Interference artworks, and a mesmeric journey into the botanical universe unfolds.
July 26 – August 24, 2024
616 East Hyman Avenue, Aspen, CO
“Bauhaus Typography at 100”
The Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies
Felix Klee, “After All, Dessau! (Und doch, Dessau!),” 1927,
Collage and watercolor; courtesy of The Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies, Aspen.
Within the Aspen Institute Campus, The Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies raises the curtain on “Bauhaus Typography at 100” this summer, a jubilant exhibition dedicated to Herbert Bayer’s engrossing typography alongside illustrious Bauhaus typographers. In partnership with the San Francisco-based Letterform Archive, the trailblazing design movement founded by German architect Walter Gropius in 1919 is on alluring display, inviting visitors of all ages to embark upon magazines, books, stationery, and more.
Meticulously curated by Letterform Archive Executive Director and Curator Rob Saunders, and deftly designed by Principal of The Common Era James Williams, iconic designs by luminaries Paul Klee, László Moholy-Nagy, Wassily Kandinsky and more abound. “Herbert Bayer’s inventive use of typography and experimental layouts revolutionized graphic design in the 20th century,” said Saunders. “His work, such as the geometric sans-serif Universal typeface, exemplified the Bauhaus ethos of simplicity, functionality, and clarity.”
“We are excited to collaborate with Letterform Archive on this exhibition,” added Bayer Center Executive Director Lissa Ballinger. “A non-profit center for preserving and sharing the history of the graphic arts, Letterform is a perfect match for the Bayer Center as we develop exhibitions around our mission to preserve and honor the interdisciplinary nature of Herbert Bayer and his legacy in Aspen and beyond.”
What we love: The show’s exquisite and thorough exhibition catalog brims with 280 pages of prismatic imagery, concentrating on objects derived directly from the presentation as well as featuring an absorbing introduction written by Bauhaus design expert Ellen Lupton.
June 11, 2024 – April 26, 2025
610 Gillespie Ave, Aspen, CO 81611
Contemporary and Historical Design Objects
R & Company
Richard Marquis, USA, 1988, Teapot Goblet, Glass; courtesy of R & Company.
The New York-based gallery R & Company returns to light up Aspen this sunny season with a remarkable collection of contemporary and historical design objects, highlighting masterworks by Evelyn Ackerman, Rogan Gregory, Katie Stout, Roberto Lugo, and more. The seasonal space near Aspen Art Museum debuts a thoughtfully curated and constantly evolving show, as well as vivacious new collaborations. With Object & Thing, nimble designers Frances Palmer and Johnny Ortiz-Concha will introduce coveted creations, while a partnership with Hedges Projects brings rarely-seen photographs taken by Andy Warhol of his dreamlike jaunts in Aspen and charming Carbondale ranch property.
“With the success of our Aspen location last summer, we are excited to return to this passionate and enthusiastic community with an all-new slate of carefully chosen design objects and unique collaborations,” said Evan Snyderman and Zesty Meyers, Co-Founders and Principals of R & Company. “Aspen has long been known for its engagement with daring and innovative artists and we are looking forward to continuing to enhance the presence of and interest in collectible design here. Today’s designers and makers are incredibly diverse and are propelling innovation through new concepts and techniques, and we are delighted to bring their work to new and returning audiences in Aspen.”
What we love: The exhibition’s astute inclusion of contemporary visionaries like Serban Ionescu, Luam Melake, Darcy Miro, Brad Miller, Jeff Zimmerman, Nancy Pearce, and Katie Stout, juxtaposed with quintessential treasures by Brazilian Modernists Joaquim Tenreiro and Sergio Rodrigues.
June 29 – August 30, 2024
520 East Hyman Street, Aspen, CO 81611
Summer Series
Anderson Ranch Arts Center
Courtesy of Anderson Ranch Arts Center.
The beloved Anderson Ranch Arts Center’s annual Summer Series offers visitors access to cutting-edge public presentations of both Q&A’s and lectures. The serene Anderson Ranch campus welcomes the world’s most innovative artists, leading critics, curators, and collectors, as well as notable cultural figureheads. The gripping 2024 series lineup thus far has included rich dialogues between International Artist Honoree Charles Gaines and Rodney McMillian, Jerry Saltz, and Sarah Harrelson, and Pedro Reyes with Mia Locks. On August 1, visitors won’t want to miss free access to a fascinating exchange between Derek Fordjour and Sophia Cohen of Gagosian, in addition to August 8th’s conversation with Hilary Pecis and NOTA BENE’s Benjamin Godsill.
“We are extremely pleased for the Ranch to serve as a hub for amazing contemporary voices this coming summer, all of whom are committed to the Ranch’s mission as an art-making and education center,” said Peter Waanders, President and CEO. “Sarah Harrelson is a former Trustee and longtime friend of the Ranch. She really understands the culture of the Ranch community, from young workshop students to seasoned faculty from top colleges and universities around the country, to the collectors and art world experts. Sarah designed each week to be an interesting pairing of artists and guest moderators. It’s a fresh and exciting direction for the series!”
What we love: The masterful Charles Gaines has been newly selected as the 2024 International Artist Honoree, deeply honoring his revolutionary artistry since the 1970s in conceptual art, as well as his ever-evolving practice and noble career of over 30 years as a vital educator at CalArts.
July 10 – August 8, 2024
5263 Owl Creek Rd, Snowmass Village, CO 81615
