Wexner Center for the Arts

Wexner Center for the Arts is a contemporary arts center and research laboratory located on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1989, it serves as a multidisciplinary hub dedicated to the production, presentation, and critical discussion of contemporary art across visual arts, film, video, performance, and new media. The center is named in honor of Leslie Wexner, founder of L Brands, and his family, whose foundational gift made its creation possible. It operates as a non-collecting institution, focusing instead on commissioning new work and fostering innovative artistic practices.

History

The center's origins are tied to a significant philanthropic gift from Leslie Wexner and the Wexner Foundation to The Ohio State University in the early 1980s, intended to create a flagship institution for contemporary culture. It opened to the public in November 1989, with an inaugural exhibition featuring artists like Jenny Holzer and Barbara Kruger. Under its founding director, Sherri Geldin, who led the institution for nearly three decades, the center quickly established a reputation for ambitious programming. Key historical moments include hosting early career exhibitions for now-prominent artists such as Kara Walker and Pipilotti Rist, and presenting major projects like Ann Hamilton's large-scale installation *the event of a thread* in 2012. The directorship transitioned to Johanna Burton, previously of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, in 2021, marking a new chapter for the institution.

Architecture

The building is a seminal work of deconstructivist architecture, designed by renowned architect Peter Eisenman in collaboration with the late Richard Trott. Its iconic form features a prominent white metal grid facade, intended to echo the campus's original master plan by Frederick Law Olmsted and the ghost footprint of an abandoned armory. The design incorporates dramatic, skewed geometries, a signature "collapsed grid," and a central roofless pathway that creates a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. Key interior spaces include the flexible performance and exhibition Black Box, the state-of-the-art Film/Video Theater, and the expansive galleries. The architecture itself has been the subject of numerous critical essays and is considered a physical manifestation of postmodern theoretical ideas, challenging conventional museum design.

Programs and exhibitions

The center's programming is interdisciplinary and artist-centered, encompassing visual art exhibitions, film and video screenings, live music and performance, and public lectures. Its exhibition history includes major solo presentations for artists like Christopher Wool, Trisha Donnelly, and Mark Bradford, as well as influential thematic group shows. The Film/Video Theater program is renowned for its curated retrospectives, documentaries, and avant-garde cinema, often featuring visits from filmmakers such as Agnès Varda and Steve McQueen. The performing arts program has presented groundbreaking work by choreographers including William Forsythe and companies like Mona Hatoum, alongside cutting-edge music from composers and performers like John Luther Adams and Meredith Monk. A robust education and public engagement department creates dialogues between artists, students, and the community.

Wexner Center Residency Awards

A cornerstone of its mission, the Wexner Center Residency Awards provide crucial support for artists, filmmakers, and performers to develop new work. The program includes the prestigious Wexner Center Artist Residency Award, which offers artists resources, time, and access to the center's production facilities. Notable past residents include visual artist Julie Mehretu, filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and composer Alvin Lucier. The Wexner Center Film/Video Residency Award specifically supports moving-image artists, while the Wexner Center Performing Arts Residency aids in the development of new performances. These residencies often result in premieres presented at the center and at venues worldwide, solidifying its role as an incubator for contemporary practice.

Wexner Center Film/Video Studio

This dedicated production facility supports the creation of new moving-image art through its residency and commissioning programs. The studio provides artists with professional-grade equipment, technical support, and post-production resources to realize ambitious projects. It has been instrumental in the production of significant works by artists like Sharon Lockhart, Tacita Dean, and Charles Atlas. The studio's output spans single-channel video, digital projects, and film installations, many of which have entered the collections of major institutions like the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art. This commitment to production distinguishes the center as a site where new media art is not only presented but also materially generated.

Impact and recognition

The center is widely regarded as one of the leading contemporary arts institutions in the United States, known for its curatorial risk-taking and deep investment in artistic process. It has been recognized with awards from the Association of Art Museum Curators and the National Endowment for the Arts. Its influence extends through the careers it has helped launch and the scholarly discourse it generates, frequently covered in publications like Artforum and The New York Times. By integrating fully with a major research university, it provides a unique model for academic and artistic collaboration, influencing similar programs nationally. The center's legacy is cemented by its alumni, many of whom have become defining voices in contemporary art, and its enduring architectural landmark on the campus of The Ohio State University. Category:Art museums and galleries in Ohio Category:The Ohio State University Category:Buildings and structures in Columbus, Ohio Category:Contemporary art galleries in the United States Category:Art museums established in 1989