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Artists Reimagine Freud's Vienna Office in Exhibition at Long Island University

exhibition · 2026-04-22

The exhibition titled [B19] The Psychic Life of Objects took place at Long Island University Humanities Gallery in Brooklyn from May 6 to June 9, 2012. Curated by Matt Freedman and Laurence Hegarty, it showcased the works of 19 artists, drawing on the themes of psychoanalysis inspired by Sigmund Freud's consulting room located at Berggasse 19 in Vienna. Among the highlighted pieces were Alan Wexler's interconnected chairs, Francis Cape's therapist chair linked to an auto accident, and a video by Bill Morrison that depicted his great-grandfather's competition with Freud. Other artists included Joe Amrhein, Matt Blackwell, and Jane Irish, who recreated Freud's Greek urns using Meissen porcelain. The curators also published a related essay on the Romanov Grave website.

Key facts

  • Exhibition ran from May 6 to June 9, 2012
  • Held at Long Island University Humanities Gallery in Brooklyn
  • Featured 19 artists responding to Sigmund Freud's Vienna office
  • Curated by Matt Freedman and Laurence Hegarty
  • Included works by Alan Wexler, Francis Cape, Rob de Mar, Kyle LoPinto, Bill Morrison, Elana Herzog, David Humphrey, Jennie Nichols, Jane Irish, Joe Amrhein, Matt Blackwell, Peter Drake, and Jude Tallichet
  • Explored themes like Eros, Thanatos, and psychoanalysis
  • Curators discovered photographic connections to a professor's father
  • Essay available on Romanov Grave website detailing uncanny visitations

Entities

Artists

  • Alan Wexler
  • Francis Cape
  • Rob de Mar
  • Kyle LoPinto
  • Bill Morrison
  • Elana Herzog
  • David Humphrey
  • Jennie Nichols
  • Jane Irish
  • Joe Amrhein
  • Matt Blackwell
  • Peter Drake
  • Jude Tallichet
  • Sigmund Freud
  • John Wayne Gacy
  • Monty Clift
  • J.P. Sartre

Institutions

  • Long Island University Humanities Gallery
  • Long Island University
  • Romanov Grave

Locations

  • Brooklyn
  • United States
  • Vienna
  • Austria
  • Berggasse 19

Sources