Cady Noland Breaks Silence with First Retrospective at Frankfurt's MMK

Cady Noland, the elusive American artist who hasn't shown new pieces since 2000, has surprisingly approved her first major retrospective at the Museum für Moderne Kunst (MMK) in Frankfurt. Open until March 31, the exhibition includes 84 works created between 1984 and 2008, featuring three collaborations with the late Diana Balton. Noland's art critiques American culture using materials like aluminum, shopping baskets with guns, and Budweiser cans. Her 1989 essay, 'Towards a Metalanguage of Evil,' discusses America's hidden violence, a recurring motif in the exhibition. After persistent efforts, museum director Susanne Pfeffer gained Noland's collaboration, which includes her input on the display. Notably, Noland's work Oozewald sold for $6.6 million in 2011, making her the most expensive living female artist. There’s no catalog for the show, just a booklet with an essay by Diedrich Diederichsen. Despite this rare exhibition, Noland continues to avoid interviews and remains private.