Sayart.net - Judy Chicago′s Retrospective: A Journey Through Six Decades of Fearless Artistry

Courtesy of Jessica Silverman

On the eve of Judy Chicago's highly anticipated solo retrospective at the New Museum in New York, art enthusiast Jessica Silverman introduces a dedicated website. Curated by Massimiliano Gioni, the exhibition, aptly titled "Judy Chicago: Herstory".  This retrospective opens to the public on Thursday, October 12th, and will remain on display until January 14, 2024.

The website curated by Jessica Silverman provides an insight into seven pivotal works, each offering a glimpse into Judy Chicago's diverse art journey. Some of these pieces are considered pioneering examples of feminist minimalism, while others offer a preview of the forms that would later shape her iconic work, "The Dinner Party." Additionally, a couple of large-scale creations challenge conventional art historical portrayals of the reclining nude, showcasing Chicago's innovation in this genre. Certain works also highlight her incorporation of folk idioms in her exploration of Pop art, revealing her unwavering commitment to fearless aesthetic experimentation and the promotion of women's freedom.

▲ Butterfly Test Plates (Set of 5), 1973-1974, China paint on porcelain , Each plate, 12 1/2 inches / 31.8 cm, Courtesy of Jessica Silverman

In honor of the exhibition's opening, Judy Chicago's 1973-74 butterfly plates are brought to the forefront. This historically significant series of five porcelain paintings serves as a precursor to her masterpiece, "The Dinner Party." Chicago's butterfly plates symbolize themes of metamorphosis, flight, and freedom, capturing the essence of feminine beauty and ecstasy. In a playful nod to literary works by Margaret Atwood, such as "The Edible Woman," and the creative output of other artists with linguistic acumen, these plates showcase a rich cultural depth. Notably, during a time when ceramics were marginalized in the art world and societal norms were in flux, Judy Chicago fearlessly presented feminist erotica, challenging established hierarchies in art and craft.

The butterfly plates distinctly embody Judy Chicago's artistic signature. They are characterized by their meticulous precision, a vibrant array of rainbow colors with seamless ombre transitions, and the presence of her distinctive Palmer-method handwriting. A high-concept, high-design artist, Chicago's dedication to honing diverse modes of painting led her to attend autobody school, a remarkable feat given her class of six hundred men. Furthermore, she received training in glaze painting from a select group of women.

▲ In The Beginning, 1984, Primsacolor on paper, 65 x 389 inches / 165.1 x 988.1 cm, Courtesy of Jessica Silverman

Born in 1939 in Chicago, Judy Chicago stands as a pioneering artist who has left an indelible mark on art history. Her most celebrated work, "The Dinner Party" (1979), is permanently displayed at the Brooklyn Museum in New York. Her artistic legacy extends to prestigious institutions worldwide, including the British Museum and Tate in London, Moderna Museet in Stockholm, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the National Gallery in Washington D.C., and numerous others. Chicago's work has been a focal point in recent museum surveys at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., and ICA Miami. Her pieces have been featured in major thematic group exhibitions, such as "Pacific Standard Time: Made in LA" at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, "Ends of the Earth" at Haus der Kunst in Berlin, and "The World Goes Pop" at Tate Modern in London.

Notably, Judy Chicago's collaboration with Maria Grazia Chiuri, the creative director of Dior, resulted in a series of handbags. Her artistic vision extended to designing the stage set for Dior's 2020 Spring-Summer Haute Couture show in Paris. Currently residing and working in Belen, New Mexico, Chicago engages in special projects with Salon 94 and is represented by Jeffrey Deitch and Jessica Silverman.

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