David Armstrong's First US Survey at Artists Space
Right now, you can check out an exhibition called "Portraits" featuring the work of photographer David Armstrong, who lived from 1954 to 2014. It's happening at Artists Space in New York and will run until May 23, 2026. The show includes over 90 photographs, primarily vintage prints from the 1990s to 2010s, along with a key installation from 2004. Co-curated by Jay Sanders and Kelly Taxter, this display was made in partnership with the David Armstrong Archive for his estate. Armstrong became well-known in the late 1970s for his striking black-and-white portraits of famous New York figures, later shifting to landscapes and still lifes due to the AIDS crisis. In the early 2000s, he returned to portraiture at home, inspired by Renaissance art, and even played with digital photography for collages. This exhibition really showcases his artistic evolution and deep dive into photography.
Key facts
- First US survey of David Armstrong at Artists Space, New York
- Exhibition runs until May 23, 2026
- Over 90 photographs from the 1990s to 2010s, primarily vintage prints
- Includes a major installation first staged in 2004
- Co-organized by Jay Sanders and Kelly Taxter
- Collaboration with the David Armstrong Archive on behalf of the Estate
- Armstrong emerged in the late 1970s with portraits of New York artists and musicians
- After AIDS, he turned to landscapes and still lifes, then returned to portraiture in the 2000s
Entities
Artists
- David Armstrong
- Cookie Mueller
- Patti Astor
- Rene Ricard
- Johnny Thunders
- Nan Goldin
- Jay Sanders
- Kelly Taxter
Institutions
- Artists Space
- David Armstrong Archive
- School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston
- P.S. 1
- Kunsthalle Zürich
- LUMA Arles
- Scalo Verlag Zürich
Locations
- New York
- Brooklyn
- Los Angeles
- Boston
- Zürich
- Arles