The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York has unveiled the list of artists participating in the 81st edition of the Whitney Biennial, set to open to the public on March 20. Titled “Even Better Than the Real Thing” and co-organized by Meg Onli and Chrissie Iles, the exhibition will showcase the works of 69 artists and two collectives, as listed below.
The 2024 Biennial, characterized by a diverse array of creators representing various skills and perspectives, aims to embody what participating artist Ligia Lewis described as a “dissonant chorus.” The selection of works addresses themes such as the definition of reality in the era of artificial intelligence, explorations of body and identity, reflections on history and contemporaneity, and considerations of land stewardship in the face of irreversible climate change.
The curators of the exhibition stated in a press release that they have had the privilege of spending time with so many incredible artists over the last year, visiting studios and discussing ideas prevalent in the art world to determine the shape of the 2024 Biennial.
The press release said: ”After finalizing the list of artists last summer, we have built a thematic Biennial that focuses on the ideas of “the real.” Society is at an inflection point around this notion, in part brought on by artificial intelligence challenging what we consider to be real, as well as critical discussions about identity.”
Many of the artists presenting works—including via robust performance and film programs—explore the fluidity of identity and form, historical and current land stewardship, and concepts of embodiment, among other urgent throughlines, according to the curators of the event.
Title: Whitney Biennial 2024 to Showcase Renowned and Emerging Artists Across Diverse Disciplines
The upcoming 81st edition of the Whitney Biennial, titled “Even Better Than the Real Thing,” is set to feature a dynamic mix of artists celebrated for decades alongside emerging figures. Curated by Meg Onli and Chrissie Iles, the exhibition will present the works of 69 artists and two collectives, offering a dissonant chorus of perspectives on themes such as artificial intelligence, body and identity, history, contemporaneity, and climate change.
