Jonathan Monk's 'Waiting for Famous People' Series Reappears as Online Exhibition Amid Pandemic

Jonathan Monk's series 'Waiting for Famous People' features photographs from the 1990s where the artist held handwritten signs with celebrity names at airport arrivals, awaiting figures like Madonna, Jackson Pollock, and Godot, who never appeared. Originally created in 1995, these works have been newly published as an online exhibition by Galleri Nicolai Wallner in Copenhagen, responding to the temporary closure of physical galleries due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The series captures Monk, then in his late-20s, dressed in a red polo shirt and beige corduroys, looking morose amid joyful reunions. ArtReview highlighted the series in its weekly online feature, noting its resonance during global shutdowns, with nostalgia for past pop culture icons like Sharon Stone and the Spice Girls, and for the freedom of travel. The images, courtesy of the artist and Galleri Nicolai Wallner, offer a relatable reflection on isolation and unfulfilled expectations. The exhibition launched in March 2020, coinciding with widespread social distancing measures.