Hauser & Wirth has announced the global representation of American Mississippi Choctaw-Cherokee artist Jeffrey Gibson. Born in Colorado and currently based in Upstate New York, Gibson was recently appointed as the first Indigenous artist to represent the U.S. pavilion at the ongoing Venice Biennale, transforming the space into a vibrant theatre of sculptures, tapestries and film installations rooted in his "complicated relationship" with the country of his birth, but created to parallel and connect with the struggles of native populations around the world.
Gibson's first showcase with his new gallery will take place at the upcoming Art Basel in Paris along with a solo exhibition at Hauser's French outpost in October 2025. "Jeffrey occupies a unique position in the sweep of contemporary art, as both an astute cultural critic and a virtuosic handler of form, color and the synthesis of many art historical languages in a range of mediums," said Hauser & Wirth president, Marc Payot, in a statement.
For over 30 years, Gibson's chromatic lexicon has been informed by Native American, Indigenous and queer histories, conflating narratives to create a universal language that embraces a range of cultural expressions. "Through his paintings, sculpture, public installations, performances and collaborations to advance learning, Jeffrey illuminates the most challenging and profound issues with wit and joy," Payot added. "He uses his art to generate an ongoing critique of American culture that is simultaneously fierce and loving, forceful and radiant—and ultimately incredibly generous in the way it includes us all."
Following his presentation of I will continue to change (2024) at Art Basel Paris, Gibson will unveil a new immersive installation entitled POWER FULL BECAUSE WE’RE DIFFERENT at MASS MoCA’s signature Building 5 gallery in North Adams, Massachusetts. Opening in November 2024, the work muses on the "two-spirit" or a third gender that is neither male or female, that is often embraced by Indigenous populations as a form of spiritual identity.
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