Hell and High Water
A memorial statue of Charlie Kirk might be coming to Times Square, Trevor Winkfield’s artificial worlds, and a beer with painter Keltie Ferris.
Welcome back from the far side of hell. After a heat advisory, dangerously unhealthy air, and a torrential thunderstorm — and another on the way as we speak? — we hope the plagues will end soon and we can all live in relative peace.
Of course, this is New York, and how boring would it be if it were predictable? Case in point (and reason #8,706 to avoid Times Square): A monument to Charlie Kirk might be coming to town. “God gave me permission,” sculptor Sergio Furnari said in defense of his sooty, Elvis-looking memorial statue of the right-wing podcaster he plans to install — sans permit — in September.
Reason number infinity to stay: Trevor Winkfield’s artificial, playfully sinister worlds at Tibor de Nagy gallery. Lillian Bassman’s experimental fashion photography at The Met. And a slew of awesome events to hit up once the weather decides to behave, including Chinese Arts Week at Lincoln Center and Uptown Bounce at El Museo del Barrio. New York’s still the place to be — come hell or high water.
—Lisa Yin Zhang, associate editor
Artist’s Planned Monument to Charlie Kirk Gets Trolled Online
“God gave me permission,” Sergio Furnari, the NYC sculptor behind the design, told Hyperallergic about his unsanctioned and widely decried work. | Rhea Nayyar
Read MoreFrom Our Critics
John Yau
Kyung-Me: I, Sunflower at Bureau
“Few contemporary artists have undergone the radical changes Kyung-Me has in her work, all while staying true to the desire to evoke autobiography without grounding it in an ‘I.’ She has pursued her trajectory without regard to stylistic consistency. To do so is to be fearless and vulnerable.”
The Mermaid's Revenge - Paintings 1991-2001 at Tibor de Nagy Gallery
“His rejection of certainty and the comfort it supposedly provides is an urgent reminder that imagination should not be neglected in the pursuit of art, and of the freedom it can give you.”
Imani Williford
Lillian Bassman: Bazaar and Beyond at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
“This show demonstrates Bassman’s mastery as an artist deeply versed in all elements of fashion media whose analytical perspective puckers at the medium’s superficiality.”
Beer With a Painter
Keltie Ferris
“I am playing with the building blocks of painting,” the artist told me at his studio in Woodstock, where he experiments with gestural compositions and monumental body prints. | Jennifer Samet
Read MoreWhat Else Is Happening?
- A 1,600-year-old sculpture previously held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art is being repatriated to Mexico, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office announced.
- Dmitriy Popov was handed a 20-year sentence over the fatal stabbing of Black gay professional dancer O’Shae Sibley. The sentencing comes after Popov was convicted of manslaughter as a hate crime in June.
- As part of its opening day festivities for Chinese Arts Week, Lincoln Center presents a performance of the the millennia-old south China theater procession known as Xing Shi or the "Awakening Lion." (Wed July 22) [lincolncenter.org]
- Visit the International Center of Photography for the Asian American Arts Alliance July Town Hall welcoming filmmakers, producers, and distributors to share their projects and resources with the AAPI creative community. (Thurs July 23) [icp.org]
- Join El Museo del Barrio for Uptown Bounce, a free summer block party! Enjoy live music from top DJs, special guests, dance lessons, and after-hours access to their exhibitions. (Thurs July 23) [elmuseo.org]
- On select days at the Brooklyn Museum, fashion designer Iris van Herpen will be seated within her exhibition, Sculpting the Senses, inviting visitors to join her in conversation and meditative, attentive handwork. (Fri July 24) [brooklynmuseum.org]
- Join Poster House for an engaging conversation on the style and presentation of Black chorus girls during the early 20th century, as well as their influence on Black women in theater and film. (Sat July 25) [posterhouse.org]
