For practically 4 a long time, greater than 2,000 artists flocked to the choice nonprofit Artwork in Common (AiG), whose accessible and various programming helped propel the early careers of Pope.L, Cecilia Vicuña, Joan Jonas, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Patty Chang, Sanford Biggers, Kay WalkingStick, and plenty of extra. AiG was a vivid star for rising artists in New York Metropolis, the place discovering alternative among the many panorama of established museum establishments and galleries can generally really feel like looking for a needle in a haystack.
That’s why it got here as a major blow when, in late 2020, in the course of the throes of the coronavirus pandemic, the storied group completely shut its doorways.
However generally endings set the groundwork for brand spanking new beginnings. In August, AiG introduced plans to return below new management. And regardless of not but having a gentle bodily location, the group has already mounted its first exhibition — a profit present to assist its future programming and operations, which is continuous as a web based fundraiser by this Sunday, September 14.
Mimian Hsu, “La Gran China” (2003), a piece in Artwork in Common’s profit exhibition (picture courtesy the artist)
The nonprofit’s resurrection comes at an acutely difficult time for the humanities neighborhood, which is coping with compounding pressures of political suppression, a reported droop within the artwork market, and a current string of gallery closures.
“Commercial galleries just show painting, and shows in institutions run longer now — meaning fewer opportunities for young New York artists to have exhibitions,” artist and curator Josh Kline advised Hyperallergic. “It’s great for everyone to have Art in General returning.”
As with so many others, AiG was a pivotal stepping stone for Kline: In 2007, the nonprofit gave him one in every of his first curatorial alternatives by inviting him to co-organize the weekend video present Values with Anthony Marcellini.
(Left) Chando Ao, “Mirror” (2024) (picture courtesy the artist); (proper) Heidi Lau, “Mantis Star Cluster” (2024) (picture courtesy the artist)
These career-building tasks are on the root of the nonprofit’s reinvigorated mission, AiG’s new govt director Xiaoyu Weng advised Hyperallergic. A Shanghai-born curator who has been with the group since 2017, Weng was additionally not too long ago tapped for Documenta’s inventive staff.
“ We’re not looking to create a big splash or be the next big thing in the art world,” Weng stated. “We’re more interested in how to do things one step at a time … We want to go down into the community and connect with people.”
As a result of AIG is at the moment with out a everlasting bodily residence, Weng stated that the group is hoping to make use of its “nomadic” place as an opportunity to forge world connections by collaborative pop-up exhibitions and dialogue occasions. As a preview of the work that the group goals to pursue going ahead, its inaugural profit exhibition was not too long ago held at board member Yve Yang’s namesake Tribeca gallery.
Gala Porras-Kim, “13 Images of resurrection at the British Museum” (2025) (picture courtesy the artist)
The fundraiser options works by artists which have beforehand graced the partitions of AiG, together with Marina Abramovic and Patty Chang. Most of the present contributors even have roots outdoors america, carrying on AiG’s legacy of worldwide cultural alternate.
However except for spotlighting AiG’s alumni, the present is billed as a continuation of the core mission of offering a platform for early-career artists. This spirit is exemplified by the curatorial path of Qingyuan Deng, whose expertise has primarily encompassed guerrilla-style reveals in smaller venues.
“I wouldn’t necessarily be working with artists like Josh Kline or Gala Porras-Kim in other shows,” stated Deng. (Deng has beforehand contributed to Hyperallergic.)
He additionally famous that whereas the fundraiser largely options work by mid-career artists, it additionally consists of newer voices like Sophie Kovel, a conceptual photographer and up to date alumna of the Whitney Museum of American Artwork’s Unbiased Research Program. Her print “Labor Credit Union” (2025) relies on her ongoing investigation into hidden energy constructions, and is at the moment listed at $1,800. Brooklyn-based visible artist and musician Becca Albee’s archival print, “AIDS: the women, IR + PR + GR” (2017) delves into the historical past of feminist well being and modern shade remedy programs, and is at the moment listed at $1,200.
“A lot of the museums really wanna focus on artists of the same generation,” Deng stated. “Art In General is less interested in that.”
Wang Tuo, “Spring Outing” (2023) (picture courtesy the artist)
