Aperture 244 Explores Artist-Created Cosmologies

The fall 2021 edition of Aperture magazine, named "Cosmologies," delves into the beginnings, narratives, and individual realms created by artists. An exclusive interview conducted by Greg Tate with Deana Lawson is featured, showcasing her staged portraits that explore African diaspora cosmologies; this year, Lawson is holding significant solo exhibitions at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. Judith Joy Ross is profiled by Rebecca Bengal, emphasizing her compassionate portraiture that unites a diverse group of individuals. The issue also includes a portfolio of Michael Schmidt's works from the 1970s–80s, which depict the divided landscapes of Berlin, as well as Feng Li's black-and-white photographs capturing surreal scenes in Chinese cities. Additional pieces cover Awol Erizku's dreamlike still lifes, Baldwin Lee's 1980s portraits of Black Southern individuals by Casey Gerald, and Pico Iyer's reflections on Tom Sandberg's monochromatic meditations. This 144-page paperback was released on September 7, 2021, and features contributions from artists including Liz Johnson Artur, Gillian Wearing, Mimi Cherono Ng'ok, Catherine Opie, Dayanita Singh, Fred Eaglesmith, Theo Eshetu, Anne Hardy, Batia Suter, Jim C. Nedd, Tavares Strachan, Pao Houa Her, Dionne Lee, Juan Brenner, and Akwaeke Emezi.