artist talk: james gilbert + erin cluley
wednesday, 12 october
5.30 pm - 6:00 pm meet + mingle
6.00 pm - 7.00 pm artist talk
join artist james gilbert, who returns to dallas contemporary for the first time since his solo exhibition in 2010, which inaugurated the museum’s glass street location, and his gallerist erin cluley in a conversation that asks: what is the legacy of contradicting ideologies in education and culture? how can we reconcile a dangerously forgetful history? who knows the right questions to ask?
in his artistic practice, james gilbert traverses a breadth of media all with an eye for whimsy, sincerity and style. his obsessive repetition of objects—rarely without his signature pink and white coloring—gives scale to the overwhelming accumulation of contemporary social injustices. nonetheless, his flair for humor betrays a certain optimism, a willingness to play not as a coping mechanism, but as an exercise in possibility.
for his solo exhibition at dallas’s erin cluely gallery, i don’t know, you don’t know, they don’t know, james gilbert explores themes of cultural heritage and genetic lineage—all with cutting wit. incorporating 130 drawings and sculpture gilbert’s new work acknowledges the messy nature of community, not helped by the equally messy political and social climate of the past few years. gilbert’s use of raw, naturally-flawed materials—wood, wax and metal—conveys an honest uncertainty in what to make of the unfolding future.
james gilbert the great migration and age of exploration, 2019 wood, stain, paint, pigmented wax 68 x 19 x 13 in (172.7 x 48.3 x 33 cm). image courtesy of erin cluley
about the artist:
james gilbert is a los angeles based multidisciplinary artist. gilbert works include sculpture, installation, drawing, painting and video. his work tackles contemporary political, social and cultural issues. previous projects focused on the destruction of significant cultural architecture, the relationship between objects, environments and community, houselessness, workers’ rights, criminal justice and capital punishment, the exchange of private information via social media and fear levied on the general public. gilbert’s work has been exhibited in prominent museums, galleries and universities internationally and he is included in numerous international collections. his work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions at the 4ground midwest land art biennial, torrance art museum, san diego art institute, dallas contemporary, and pyo gallery in seoul, south korea.