Lutz Bacher's First Posthumous Survey Opens at WIELS, Brussels Through 2026

WIELS in Brussels presents 'Burning the Days,' the inaugural posthumous retrospective of Lutz Bacher, running until August 9, 2026. Curated by Helena Kritis with Solveig Øvstebø, the exhibition spans five decades of the artist's career, from early 1970s photographic works to large-scale installations. Bacher, who lived in Berkeley, California and New York City until her death in 2019, adopted her pseudonym in the 1970s and worked extensively with found materials, embracing chance and the readymade tradition. Her practice interrogated American political and psychic tensions, often through troubled symbols like presidents, celebrities, and soldiers. Highlights include early pieces such as 'Men at War' and 'The Lee Harvey Oswald Interview,' a significant grouping from the 'Jokes' series (1985–88) and 'Playboys' paintings (1991–93), and installations like 'In Memory of My Feelings,' 'Yamaha,' 'Black Beauty,' and 'The Celestial Handbook.' The exhibition's non-chronological layout reflects Bacher's archival approach, where meaning remains fluid. The title 'Burning the Days' originates from an unfinished book in her archive, compiling work from 2013 to 2019, and references a Vietnam War-era phrase for off-duty time spent deployed.