Palomar at The Renaissance Society: Art, Astronomy, and the Politics of Observation
In Chicago, the Renaissance Society is showcasing "Palomar," a two-part exhibition inspired by the Palomar Observatory, which extends into the Cobb Lecture Hall at the University of Chicago. Artists Sarah and Joseph Belknap have set up a solargraphy camera designed for a year-long sun exposure. "Palomar: Part 1" is open from 2 May to 7 June, while "Part 2" will take place from 10 June to 12 July. Notable artworks include Eadweard Muybridge’s "Animal Locomotion-Plate 755" (1887), Kathleen Ryan’s "Satellite in Repose" (2018), and contributions from Erin Shirreff, Tony Lewis, John Opera, Heji Shin, Samira Yamin, and Lawrence Abu Hamdan. The exhibition delves into themes surrounding the control and documentation of the sky. It will be featured in the September 2026 issue of ArtReview.
Key facts
- Palomar is a two-phase group exhibition at The Renaissance Society in Chicago, titled after the Palomar Observatory at the California Institute of Technology.
- Part 1 runs 2 May – 7 June; Part 2 runs 10 June – 12 July.
- Sarah and Joseph Belknap installed a handmade solargraphy camera on the facade of the University of Chicago’s Cobb Lecture Hall for a yearlong exposure of the sun.
- Anchor works on view from May through July include Eadweard Muybridge’s Animal Locomotion-Plate 755 (1887) and Kathleen Ryan’s Satellite in Repose (2018).
- Samira Yamin’s All the Skies Over Syria (2018–21) is a collage of Time magazine photos of Syrian skies from the civil war’s start to 2019.
- Lawrence Abu Hamdan’s Air Conditioning (2022) translates data on Israeli F-35 planes and drones in Lebanese airspace since 2006 into inkjet prints of dark clouds.
- Heji Shin’s Enredo and Amor Eterno (both 2024) are photographs of fireflies in mating season that resemble stars.
- The Belknaps’ 4 months of the sun and 12 months of the sun (both 2014) were black-and-white in Part 1 and full colour in Part 2.
Entities
Artists
- Sarah Belknap
- Joseph Belknap
- Erin Shirreff
- Tony Lewis
- John Opera
- Eadweard Muybridge
- Kathleen Ryan
- Samira Yamin
- Lawrence Abu Hamdan
- Heji Shin
Institutions
- The Renaissance Society
- University of Chicago
- California Institute of Technology
- Palomar Observatory
- NASA
- Time
- ArtReview
Locations
- Chicago
- United States
- Syria
- Lebanon
- Israel