Barbara Nessim's First Chicago Solo Show Spans Sketchbooks to Computer Art
The DePaul Art Museum in Chicago is currently showcasing 'My Compass Is the Line,' the first solo exhibition of artist Barbara Nessim. This collection includes her drawings, digital prints, and an intriguing installation that highlights her 'forever books'—sketchbooks she’s decided to make public. Nessim, born in the Bronx in 1939, graduated from Pratt Institute in 1960 and started her career as a fashion illustrator in New York's garment district. Her art from the 1960s and 1970s tackled women's roles in society, pushing against gender norms. A trailblazer in digital art, she embraced technology during a residency at Time Inc. in 1982. The exhibition, curated by Ionit Behar and funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation, will wrap up on June 21.
Key facts
- Barbara Nessim's first solo show in Chicago is at DePaul Art Museum.
- The exhibition includes drawings, computer-generated prints, and a site-specific installation.
- Nessim's sketchbooks are central to the show; she calls them 'forever books'.
- She was born in the Bronx in 1939 and graduated from Pratt Institute in 1960.
- She worked as a fashion illustrator in New York's garment district.
- In 1982, she completed a residency at Time Inc.'s Video Information Services, adopting computer art.
- She chaired Parsons' illustration department from 1992 to 2004.
- The Norman Rockwell Museum made her its first Artist Laureate in 2009.
- The exhibition is curated by Ionit Behar.
- Support comes from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
- The show closes June 21.
Entities
Artists
- Barbara Nessim
Institutions
- DePaul Art Museum
- Pratt Institute
- Time Inc.
- Video Information Services
- Parsons School of Design
- School of Visual Arts
- Norman Rockwell Museum
- Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
Locations
- Chicago
- Bronx
- New York
Sources
- Artlyst —