Alain Kirili Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at Vision Festival, First Visual Artist Honored

Alain Kirili will receive a lifetime achievement award at the 24th annual Vision Festival, marking the first time a visual artist has been honored at this free jazz event. The festival runs from June 11 to 16, with Kirili appearing in conversation with musician William Parker on June 13 at 9PM. While Kirili is fundamentally a sculptor, his practice has been deeply intertwined with music for decades. He and his wife, artist Ariane Lopez-Huici, have hosted musical performances in their Tribeca loft for forty years, creating an environment where free improvisation responds directly to visual art. Kirili frequently incorporates music and dance into his museum exhibitions, particularly in Europe. His collaborations extend beyond musicians to include visual artists like Laura Newman, Thomas Nozkowski, Jeanne Silverthorne, and Christopher Wool, who have installed works for musical events at his loft. Kirili's artistic approach reflects the symbiotic principles of free jazz, emphasizing collaboration over individual expression. His work engages with traditional craftspeople in rural settings and dialogues with historical figures such as Auguste Rodin, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, David Smith, and Julio Gonzalez, each the subject of dedicated museum exhibitions. The award recognizes Kirili's unique integration of sculpture and music, where his rhythmic metalworking creates what might be considered 'frozen music.'