Adam Pendleton's 'Some Wild Kind of Language' Opens at Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam will host Adam Pendleton's significant exhibition, 'Some Wild Kind of Language,' from 10 October 2026 to 17 January 2027. This showcase includes 11 paintings and eight large drawings, featuring the Basis series, which represents his largest creations to date. Pendleton, a Richmond, Virginia native, introduced the Black Dada concept in 2008, delving into the blend of avant-garde, abstraction, and Black identity. His artistic method combines mark-making on paper with photography and screen-printing on canvas. For this exhibit, he has painted the museum's central staircase black, contrasting with the historic white cube walls established by former director Willem Sandberg. The IMC Gallery, previously showcasing artists like Barnett Newman and Willem de Kooning, will display the works. Pendleton views Black Dada as a means to both create and dismantle rules, highlighting ongoing exploration. He challenges static definitions of Blackness, asserting that his art evolves in real time alongside the audience. The exhibition will also be featured in Wallpaper*'s November 2026 Art Issue, available from 8 October. Pendleton's past solo exhibitions include the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.