David Wojnarowicz's Multifaceted Legacy Explored in Whitney Museum Retrospective
From July 13 to September 30, 2018, the Whitney Museum of American Art hosted 'David Wojnarowicz: History Keeps Me Up at Night' at 99 Gansevoort Street, New York City. This exhibition featured a diverse array of Wojnarowicz's artistic expressions, including the 1979 series 'Arthur Rimbaud in New York.' In Gallery 7, visitors could view paintings from his 1987 series focused on the four elements. His later works, particularly the 1990 mixed-media piece 'History Keeps Me Up at Night,' confronted the AIDS epidemic. The display also included sculptures like globes and busts adorned with maps and collages. While Wojnarowicz's activism was emphasized, the installation 'The Lazaretto' was not recreated. The exhibition acknowledged his legal triumph in Wojnarowicz vs. American Family Organization in 1990.
Key facts
- Exhibition ran from July 13 to September 30, 2018
- Held at Whitney Museum of American Art, 99 Gansevoort Street, New York City
- Featured David Wojnarowicz's works across multiple media
- Opened with 1979 'Arthur Rimbaud in New York' photographic series
- Included 1987 four elements paintings first shown at Gracie Mansion Gallery
- Showcased 1990 mixed-media painting 'History Keeps Me Up at Night'
- Wojnarowicz died in 1992 at age 37
- Noted 1990 legal case Wojnarowicz vs. American Family Organization and Donald Wildmon
Entities
Artists
- David Wojnarowicz
- Arthur Rimbaud
- William S. Burroughs
- Jean Genet
- Paul Marcus
- James Romberger
- Marguerite Van Cook
- Paul Thek
Institutions
- Whitney Museum of American Art
- Gracie Mansion Gallery
- American Family Organization
- National Endowment for the Arts
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- Meatpacking District
- Times Square
- East Village