Cameron Rowland's Research-Driven Sculptures Confront Prison Labor and Privatization
Cameron Rowland utilizes found materials to craft sculptures that comment on political and social structures. Notable pieces include Loot (2014), which employs copper pipes to represent the privatization of public utilities, and Pass-Thru (2014), a bulletproof transaction box. In 2016, Rowland's exhibition 91020000 at Artists Space in New York focused on the US prison-industrial complex, featuring items created by inmates, such as desks and protective gear. The exhibition's name alludes to Artists Space's customer number with Corcraft, a company that utilizes prison labor. Rowland's work critiques economic oppression and racial disparities, particularly during the Trump administration. He is set for solo exhibitions in spring 2017 and will take part in the Whitney Biennial beginning March 17, 2017. His rental model incorporates economic critique into his artistic approach.
Key facts
- Cameron Rowland's sculptures are research-based manifestations of political and social structures.
- His 2016 exhibition 91020000 at Artists Space confronted the US prison-industrial complex.
- The exhibition title refers to Artists Space's customer number with prison labor supplier Corcraft.
- Objects in 91020000 were purchased from Corcraft, implicating the institution in the system critiqued.
- Rowland uses a rental model where some artworks can be rented for the cost of their Corcraft components.
- He has solo exhibitions scheduled for spring 2017 at Galerie Buchholz in Cologne and Établissement d'en face in Brussels.
- His work will be included in the Whitney Biennial opening March 17, 2017.
- Rowland's recent research examines social impact bonds, financial products that encourage private investment in public services.
Entities
Artists
- Cameron Rowland
Institutions
- Artists Space
- Corcraft
- New York State Department of Correctional Services
- Galerie Buchholz
- Établissement d'en face
- Whitney Biennial
- K11 Art Foundation
- Artreview
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Cologne
- Germany
- Brussels
- Belgium
- UK
- Green Haven Correctional Facility
- Attica Correctional Facility