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Adrian Piper's MoMA Retrospective Explores Intuition, Race, and Consciousness

exhibition · 2026-04-22

The Museum of Modern Art debuted "Adrian Piper: A Synthesis of Intuitions, 1965-2016" on March 31, 2018, with the exhibition continuing until July 22 at 11 West 53rd Street, New York City. This retrospective explores Piper's extensive career spanning five decades, showcasing her evolution from minimalist conceptual art to works that critically address race and identity. The exhibition's title draws from Kant's ideas on intuition and Emerson's concept of primary wisdom. Influences from Sol LeWitt and her alter ego, "The Mythic Being," are evident in her early pieces. Notable works featured include "Decide What You Are" (1992), "What It's Like, What It Is" (1991), and "Cornered" (1988), emphasizing her philosophical and artistic training and her engagement with audience perceptions.

Key facts

  • Adrian Piper: A Synthesis of Intuitions, 1965-2016 ran from March 31 to July 22, 2018
  • The exhibition was held at the Museum of Modern Art at 11 West 53rd Street in New York City
  • Piper studied at the School for Visual Arts and City College before earning a Harvard Ph.D.
  • Early works show influence from Sol LeWitt and explore consciousness through minimalist constructions
  • The exhibition title references both Immanuel Kant's philosophical concept and Ralph Waldo Emerson's notion of intuition
  • Piper created an alter ego called "The Mythic Being" for performance works
  • "Decide What You Are" (1992) features a photograph of a black girl overwhelmed by denying texts
  • "Everything" series (2010-2013) presents the phrase "Everything will be taken away" on erasing chalkboards

Entities

Artists

  • Adrian Piper
  • Sol LeWitt

Institutions

  • Museum of Modern Art
  • School for Visual Arts
  • City College
  • Harvard

Locations

  • New York City
  • United States
  • 11 West 53rd Street
  • Hester Street
  • Forsythe Street

Sources