Josh Kline Reflects on Self-Portraiture and Social Media in New York Solo Show

Josh Kline's solo show, Social Media, is currently on display at Lisson Gallery in New York until 19 October. This exhibition marks Kline's significant debut in self-portraiture, featuring fragmented 3D-printed sculptures such as Mid-Career Artist and Professional Default Swaps. The artist, originally from Philadelphia and now based in New York, is recognized for his mixed-media series like Creative Labor (2009–14), Blue Collars (2014–20), and Climate Change (2019–). His 2023 museum survey at the Whitney Museum, Project for a New American Century, included pieces like Universal Early Retirement (2016) and the climate refugee camp installation Personal Responsibility. Kline's installations resemble cinematic narratives, tackling themes like Freedom, Unemployment, Civil War, and Climate Change, the latter recently showcased at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. He employs various mediums, including sculpture and video, and engages with the notion of authenticity in the age of social media, referencing Judith Butler's views on empathy. Kline's earlier works feature videos like Forever 27, which includes Kurt Cobain, and he performed in Flattery Bath 2 at MoMA PS1. He also reflects on how New York's real estate affects artists and the evolving realism of his 3D-printed sculptures.