Julia Heyward's First Institutional Solo Exhibition Outside U.S. Opens in Münster
Julia Heyward's first solo exhibition outside the U.S., titled 'Voices of Many Voices,' is currently on display at Westfälischer Kunstverein in Münster, running until May 31, 2026. Although she has significantly influenced New York's underground art scene since the 1970s, institutional acknowledgment of her work has been limited. This exhibition emphasizes her innovative use of language and voice, mirroring the 'Miracles in Reverse' show at Kunstverein Nürnberg, which is scheduled from January 31 to April 19, 2026, and curated by Nele Kaczmarek. Heyward's performances, such as 'WAS HERE' (1973), 'Shake Daddy Shake' (1976), and 'GOD/HEADS' (1976), combine music, video, and visuals, critiquing mass media while addressing issues of gender, class, and religion, as seen in her multimedia works like 'Mood Music' (1988) and '29 SpaceTime' (2017).
Key facts
- Julia Heyward's exhibition 'Voices of Many Voices' is at Westfälischer Kunstverein in Münster until May 31, 2026.
- This marks her first institutional solo exhibition outside the United States.
- The exhibition runs parallel to 'Miracles in Reverse' at Kunstverein Nürnberg—Albrecht Dürer Gesellschaft from January 31 to April 19, 2026, curated by Nele Kaczmarek.
- Heyward's work has received little institutional recognition despite her influence on New York's underground art scene since the 1970s.
- Her performances integrate live music, video projection, and interactive visuals, premiering at venues like Whitney Museum of American Art and Judson Memorial Church.
- Heyward uses techniques from vaudeville, yodelling, Mongolian throat singing, ventriloquism, and phonetic distortion to explore language.
- She contests gender roles, classism, religious conviction, and abuse consequences in her work.
- Heyward's multimedia projects include 'Mood Music' (1988), 'Miracles in Reverse' (1996), and '29 SpaceTime / The Gabriel Frequency' (2017).
Entities
Artists
- Julia Heyward
- Nele Kaczmarek
- RoseLee Goldberg
- Peter Quehenberger
- Wendy Perron
- Ericka Beckman
- Mike Kelley
- Dara Birnbaum
- Joan Jonas
- Howardena Pindell
- Perry Hoberman
- J. Hoberman
- Celeste Burlina
- Elisa R. Linn
- Lennart Wolff
- Leonie Schmiese
Institutions
- Westfälischer Kunstverein
- Kunstverein Nürnberg—Albrecht Dürer Gesellschaft
- Whitney Museum of American Art
- Judson Memorial Church
- The Kitchen
- Waschhaus Potsdam
- Roulette
- Studio International
- The Soho Weekly News
- Kunstverein Nürnberg – Albrecht Dürer Gesellschaft
- Whitney Independent Study Program
- Artists Space
- MTV
Locations
- Münster
- Germany
- New York
- United States
- Nürnberg
- Innsbruck
- Austria
- Potsdam
- USA
- St. Louis
- Lower Manhattan
- SoHo