Allan Wexler's 'Absurd Thinking' Book Launch at MoMA Explores Architecture as Art
The Museum of Modern Art recently celebrated the release of Allan Wexler's book, 'Absurd Thinking: Between Art and Design,' with a discussion led by Sean Anderson about Wexler's artistic journey. An alumnus of the Rhode Island School of Design from the 1960s, Wexler delves into the poetic aspects of architecture through his sculptures and installations. He favors embracing challenges rather than seeking solutions, drawing inspiration from Andy Warhol. His noteworthy pieces include Hat/Roof, which reflects the experiences of Cuban refugees, and the gravity-defying Pratt Desk at Pratt Institute. His Prison Project at Eastern State Penitentiary utilized limited resources to create art. Additionally, his collaborative work with his wife, Two Too-Large Tables, functions as both a table and a shelter. Published by Lars Müller, the book chronicles his 45-year artistic journey.
Key facts
- Allan Wexler's book 'Absurd Thinking: Between Art and Design' was launched at the Museum of Modern Art
- Sean Anderson, Associate Curator of Architecture and Design at MoMA, commented on Wexler's open-ended process
- Wexler was trained as an architect at Rhode Island School of Design in the 1960s
- He cites Andy Warhol as an influence due to their shared initials AW
- His work Hat/Roof was inspired by Cuban refugees catching rainwater with plastic funnels
- Pratt Desk is an outdoor public artwork at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn that appears to float
- The Prison Project was commissioned for Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia
- Two Too-Large Tables in Hudson River Park was created in collaboration with his wife Ellen
Entities
Artists
- Allan Wexler
- Andy Warhol
- Sol LeWitt
- John Cage
- Robert Rauschenberg
- Marcel Duchamp
- Ellen Wexler
- Joyce Beckenstein
- Sean Anderson
Institutions
- Museum of Modern Art
- Rhode Island School of Design
- Lars Müller
- Pratt Institute
- Eastern State Penitentiary
- NPR
- Howard Johnson Motor Lodges
- artcritical
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Brooklyn
- Long Island
- Rhode Island
- Maine
- Philadelphia
- Pennsylvania
- Cuba
- Japan
- Hudson River Park