Judith Bernstein: Cabinet of Horrors presents a new body of work by the artist, specifically commissioned by The Drawing Center. Focusing on work made since Donald J. Trump was elected president in November 2016, the exhibition includes approximately eighteen new drawings, four large-scale paper panel murals, a series of drawn “dollar bills”, vintage piggy banks in a vitrine, and a free political campaign pin designed by Bernstein. A series of free political campaign pins designed by Bernstein are available at the museum entrance.
Bernstein began engaging with social issues in her work during the 1960s, creating anti-Vietnam drawings, monumental phalluses, and pieces consisting entirely of her own signature. The present series of drawings uses Trump’s own insult-driven, childlike syntax and language to distill Bernstein’s anger, disgust, and disapproval of the current administration and its policies. Through her new series of drawings, Bernstein transforms her critique into powerful graphic and text-based works. Providing context for Bernstein’s recent work, this exhibition opens with one of the artist’s earliest political drawings from 1969, as well as, a selection of five “Word Drawings” from 1995, including: Liberty, Justice, Equality, Evil, and Fear.
Organized by Brett Littman, Executive Director.
Judith Bernstein: Cabinet of Horrors is made possible through the support of Valeria Napoleone XX; Corina Larkin and Nigel Dawn; and the Richman Family Foundation with additional contributions from Burger Collection, Hong Kong; Karma International, Zürich/Los Angeles; and an anonymous donor.
Special thanks to Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York, for their support of the exhibition catalogue.
Funding of all public programs associated with this exhibition is provided by Valeria Napoleone XX.