The exhibition also explores the interplay between narrative, figuration, and abstraction through works by Diedrick Brackens, Leilah Babirye, Chitra Ganesh, LaToya Hobbs, Wendy Red Star, and others. Curator Erin Dziedzic’s vision is to offer a glimpse into the global scope of this multigenerational collection while highlighting shared thematic threads and the uniquely innovative material approaches of the featured artists. This perspective aligns with the Gautreauxes’ long-standing commitment to collecting, which is deeply rooted in their engagement with artists, their creative processes, and the subjects they explore. “The artists help me understand how complex the world is,” says Bill Gautreaux. “Art has helped me navigate, change the way I think, shift the lens and focus, and put things in perspective. If you change the way you think, you can change your world.”
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
This thoughtfully assembled exhibition features the work of 36 artists living and working in cities including Baltimore, Chicago, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New Delhi, New York, and Seattle. Seeing the World amplifies the narratives, ideas, and creative visions of artists from diverse global perspectives. Notably, the exhibition highlights artists who have established their studios in each of the three locations of The Peninsula Hotel in the Americas, further connecting the collection’s themes of place, culture, and artistic dialogue. The exhibition offers a deeper look into the Gautreauxes’ commitment to collecting works by women, artists of color, and those historically underrepresented in the art world. Their forward-thinking approach is evident in their early acquisitions of pieces by Cuban artist Belkis Ayón, whose distinctive collographic prints have experienced a resurgence since the 1990s. The collection has long engaged with themes of the Black diaspora—its legacy and its future—through works by artists such as Nick Cave, Sam Gilliam, Tau Lewis, Steve Locke, Shinique Smith, and Reginald Sylvester II. Additionally, the Gautreauxes have been dedicated to supporting artists like Denzil Forrester, a Grenadian-British painter whose decades-long practice gained new recognition with his first institutional survey in 2023.
ABOUT ART21
Art21 is the world’s leading source to learn directly from the artists of our time. The mission of Art21 is to educate and expand access to contemporary art through the production of documentary films, resources, and public programs. The organization recently embarked on capacity- building efforts to grow its operations and services to bring more artists to more audiences worldwide. Art21 opens the world of art to everyone. Learn more at Art21.org.
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