Feb 1–Aug 11, 2019

Introducing Tony Conrad: A Retrospective

Tony Conrad in front of Yellow Movie 2/2/73 (1973) and two Yellow Movie—35mm Format canvases (1973), in his retrospective exhibition, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, Buffalo, New York, December 1977. Photo: Kevin Noble. Yellow Movie 2/2/73 courtesy The Estate of Tony Conrad and Greene Naftali, New York. Image courtesy Tony Conrad Archives. Work © The Estate of Tony Conrad.
About

Introducing Tony Conrad: A Retrospective marks the first large-scale museum survey devoted entirely to pieces originally presented by the artist in museum and gallery settings. A pioneering artist who helped define American avant-garde in the 1960s and challenged barriers between different mediums through radical deconstruction and experimentation, the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to experience six decades of Conrad’s work. Exhibiting a wide range of seminal pieces, the presentation will expand and deepen an understanding of his experimental and ground-breaking practice, which is primarily associated with his contributions to minimal music and structural film in the 1960s. Bringing together sculpture, painting, film, video, performance, and installation, Introducing Tony Conrad will create a sensory experience that invokes the participatory and performative approach of the artist. Spoken, written, and performed introductions originally created by Conrad to help frame screenings and presentations will be woven into the space, creating a level of active engagement that breaks down and invites an unprecedented reexamination of the boundaries between artistic categories.

The presentation at ICA will create a unique experience that will feature new audio and video footage that has never before been released to the public. Introducing Tony Conrad: A Retrospective is organized by the Albright-Knox Art Gallery with the support of the University at Buffalo Art Galleries. It’s presentation in Buffalo was organized by Chief Curator Cathleen Chaffee, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, and Senior Curator Rachel Adams, University at Buffalo Art Galleries, with Assistant Curator Tina Rivers Ryan, Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Organized at ICA by Daniel and Brett Sundheim Chief Curator Anthony Elms.

This exhibition is organized by the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY. The exhibition has been made possible through the generosity of Galerie Buchholz, Berlin/Cologne and Greene Naftali, New York. This exhibition has been made possible at the Institute of Contemporary Art thanks to support from Charles X Block, Carol & John Finley, Marjorie & Michael Levine, Allison & Neil Rubler, Patricia & Howard Silverstein, and Caroline & Daniel Werther. Support for visiting artists has been generously provided by the Sachs Contemporary Art Fund. Exhibitions at ICA are supported by Stephanie and David Simon.

Installation Views
Tue, Feb 19, 2019, 7PM–9PM
Tuesdays with Tony
Wed, Mar 27, 2019, 6:30PM–8PM
Performance: Amirtha Kidambi & Elder Ones
Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 2PM–4PM
Coffee and Conversation: Authorized Work
Tue, Apr 9, 2019, 7PM–9PM
Tuesdays with Tony
Sun, Apr 14, 2019, 2PM–4PM
Coffee and Conversation: Staging Confinement
Wed, May 15, 2019, 6:30PM–7:30PM
Artist Talk: Cory Arcangel
Wed, Jul 17, 2019, 6:30PM–8PM
Artist Talk: Unmeasured Presents by Orkan Telhan
Books & Editions
Introducing Tony Conrad: A Retrospective book cover
Offering an in-depth introduction to Conrad’s life and career, this richly illustrated volume highlights selected works dated from 1966 to 2016. Nearly 20 writings by Conrad himself, some previously unpublished, are presented alongside new contributions by Rachel Adams, Vera Alemani, Cathleen Chaffee, Constance DeJong, Diedrich Diederichsen, Anthony Elms, David Grubbs, Henriette Huldisch, Branden W. Joseph, Andrew Lampert, Christopher Müller, Annie Ochmanek, Tony Oursler, Tina Rivers Ryan, Jay Sanders, Paige Sarlin, and Christopher Williams, and additional texts and interviews by Frederick Eberstadt, Isabel Eberstadt, Tyler Hubby, Mike Kelley, Gareth Long, Toby Mussman, and Cathleen Steffan. An extensive back matter section includes a chronology of Conrad’s life and a selected exhibition history, filmography, videography, and bibliography.
Dimensions
11 x 7.5 inches
ISBN
978-3-96098-336-1
Pages
368
Publisher
Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY, in association with Koenig Books, London
Year
2019
$45.00
ISBN 978-3-96098-336-1
Publication Date
2019
Authors
Edited by Cathleen Chaffee
Designer
Joseph Logan and Katy Nelson, Joseph Logan Design
Authors
Edited by Cathleen Chaffee
Publisher
Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY, in association with Koenig Books, London
Price
$45.00