Wexner Center for the Arts

Wexner Center for the Arts. The Wexner Center for the Arts is a contemporary art center located on the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, founded by Les Wexner and Abigail Wexner in 1989. The center is named after its founder, Les Wexner, a renowned businessman and philanthropist, who is also the founder of L Brands and a member of the Forbes 400. The Wexner Center for the Arts is a hub for contemporary art, film, theater, dance, and music, featuring works by artists such as Marina Abramovic, Matthew Barney, and Cindy Sherman.

● History

The Wexner Center for the Arts was established in 1989 with a gift from Les Wexner and Abigail Wexner to Ohio State University. The center's founding director was Sherri Geldin, who previously worked at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Modern Art. The Wexner Center for the Arts has hosted numerous exhibitions and performances, including works by John Cage, Merce Cunningham, and Trisha Brown. The center has also collaborated with other institutions, such as the Guggenheim Museum, the Tate Modern, and the Centre Pompidou, to bring innovative and thought-provoking exhibitions to the public. Artists such as Kara Walker, Kehinde Wiley, and Yinka Shonibare have also been featured at the center.

● Architecture

The Wexner Center for the Arts building was designed by Peter Eisenman, a renowned architect and theorist, in collaboration with Richard Trott. The building's design is characterized by its unique and innovative use of postmodern architecture and deconstructivism, featuring a striking grid system and a bold, asymmetrical design. The building has been praised for its innovative design, which has been compared to the works of Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid. The Wexner Center for the Arts has also been recognized for its sustainable design, featuring a green roof and a rain garden, designed in collaboration with Andrea Cochran and Michael Van Valkenburgh.

● Collections and Exhibitions

The Wexner Center for the Arts has a diverse collection of contemporary art, featuring works by artists such as Gerhard Richter, Cindy Sherman, and Richard Prince. The center has also hosted numerous exhibitions, including a retrospective of the works of Pipilotti Rist and a group exhibition featuring the works of Takashi Murakami, Yayoi Kusama, and Ai Weiwei. The Wexner Center for the Arts has also collaborated with other institutions, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and the Walker Art Center, to bring innovative and thought-provoking exhibitions to the public. Artists such as Carsten Höller, Rirkrit Tiravanija, and Tino Sehgal have also been featured at the center.

● Performing Arts

The Wexner Center for the Arts has a strong commitment to performing arts, featuring a diverse range of theater, dance, and music performances. The center has hosted performances by companies such as the Trisha Brown Dance Company, the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, and the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. The Wexner Center for the Arts has also collaborated with other institutions, such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, to bring innovative and thought-provoking performances to the public. Artists such as Laurie Anderson, Philip Glass, and Steve Reich have also been featured at the center.

● Education and Outreach

The Wexner Center for the Arts has a strong commitment to education and outreach, offering a range of programs and services for students, teachers, and the broader community. The center offers workshops, lectures, and tours, as well as artist residencies and fellowships. The Wexner Center for the Arts has also collaborated with other institutions, such as the Ohio Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, to bring innovative and thought-provoking educational programs to the public. Artists such as Mark Dion, Ann Hamilton, and Allora & Calzadilla have also been involved in the center's educational programs.

● Notable Events and Exhibitions

The Wexner Center for the Arts has hosted numerous notable events and exhibitions, including a retrospective of the works of Matthew Barney and a group exhibition featuring the works of Cindy Sherman, Richard Prince, and Barbara Kruger. The center has also hosted performances by artists such as Marina Abramovic and Tania Bruguera, and has collaborated with other institutions, such as the Guggenheim Museum and the Tate Modern, to bring innovative and thought-provoking exhibitions to the public. The Wexner Center for the Arts has also been recognized for its innovative programming, including its Wexner Center Residency Award and its Film/Video Studio Program, which have supported the work of artists such as Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Sharon Lockhart. Category:Art museums in the United States