Conceptual artist Darren Bader has transformed celebrity castoffs into thought-provoking art in his latest exhibition "Youth" at Matthew Brown Gallery in New York. The show features an extraordinary collection of items once owned by famous figures, including Amy Winehouse's unwanted exercise equipment, creating what gallery staff describe as almost unbelievable artistic narratives that challenge conventional notions of value and ownership.
The centerpiece of Bader's unconventional approach involves acquiring discarded items from celebrity estate auctions and transforming them into conceptual artworks. One notable piece consists of Amy Winehouse's Vision Fitness ST-740 ab/lower back weight machine, which still bears its auction tag from Juliens Auctions showing lot number 584. Surprisingly, the machine sold for just $320, far below its retail value, raising questions about whether celebrity ownership sometimes diminishes rather than enhances an object's worth.
Bader's artistic practice extends far beyond simple celebrity memorabilia collection. His works often follow an "A on B" format, such as "jam on It" - a piece featuring fruit spread placed on a 1986 Stephen King horror novel. The title references both the book's villain and a 1984 hip-hop hit by Brooklyn group Newcleus. Even sourcing materials proved challenging, with gallery director Jack Eisenberg noting that "even in New York, jam is a hard food to find."
The artist has consistently explored themes of value and worth throughout his career. In a 2014 show with Andrew Kreps Gallery, Bader created pieces consisting solely of money exchanges - for $25,800, collectors could purchase the piece "15,031," which consisted of exactly that amount. His 2023 exhibition "Innate Value" at Blum Gallery assigned specific values to works, with any resale at a different price rendering the piece a forgery.
Bader's most ambitious conceptual gesture came in 2023 when he offered his entire artistic practice for sale at a low seven-figure asking price. The buyer would have gained the right to become "Darren Bader, artist," forcing the original Bader to pursue a new profession. When no buyer materialized at that price level, Bader remained committed to his artistic identity.
The current exhibition showcases multiple celebrity-owned object collections, including another grouping featuring Sylvester Stallone's chaise lounge, Mary Tyler Moore's drill round, Shelley Duvall's hat, Elgin Baylor's cufflinks, Ellen Burstyn's book, Tom Petty's cake knife, and Elvira's quilt. Bader acquired Moore's drill round - a U.S. Navy style MK6 training artillery shell made of wood and metal standing 32 inches high - at a Doyle auction for $320.
The acquisition process often presents unexpected challenges. Bader recalled picking up the drill round on Rosh Hashanah, walking past synagogues while carrying what appeared to be military ordnance. "I thought, it is probably not wise to walk around with a drill round," he explained, requesting the auction house wrap the item before he left to meet collector Kenny Schachter for lunch at a fancy restaurant.
Bader's methodology involves creating art from items that celebrities no longer wanted or needed. The exhibition includes a conceptual piece titled "everything you don't need," which has no physical form but provides what Eisenberg calls "a kind of conceptual key" to understanding the show. The work highlights how the art emerges from other people's decisions to discard possessions.
The artist's playful yet profound approach extends to other works in the show, including "Poe socks with Botox" - hosiery printed with Edgar Allan Poe's face that has been injected with the wrinkle-reducing neurotoxin. Creating this piece required obtaining prescription Botox through art-collecting Tribeca dermatologist Evan Rieder, as the injectable form requires medical authorization and has a limited shelf life compared to the powdered version.
Bader's exhibition history includes notable appearances at the 2014 Whitney Biennial and 2019 Venice Biennale, plus solo shows at institutions like MoMA PS1. Despite this prestigious resume, he maintains a self-deprecating stance, with his Andrew Kreps Gallery bio describing him as "an aging sculpture/literature brand working in AR, elision, found object, humor, permutation/chance, poem, rhetoric, and video."
The artist's work challenges traditional collecting practices by giving buyers significant freedom in displaying the pieces. Works come with certificates of authenticity stipulating that objects should remain together "as often as possible, although perhaps not all the time." This approach makes collectors participants in the artwork itself, a level of engagement that Eisenberg notes is "not even fathomable for most artists' work to exist in this way."
"Darren Bader: Youth" continues at Matthew Brown Gallery through January 10, offering visitors the opportunity to experience art created from the discarded possessions of the famous, transformed into conceptual pieces that question the nature of value, ownership, and the art object itself.
