Julia Wachtel's First UK Solo Show Surveys Media Appropriation from 1980s to Present
Julia Wachtel's first solo exhibition in the UK presents her media-centric artwork that has evolved since the 1980s, beginning in New York amidst the Pictures Generation. Her pieces often feature ironic contrasts between appropriated visuals, particularly large canvases that merge cartoon characters with monochromatic news images. Notable works such as What, What, What (1988) delve into the complexities of desire and meaning. Her commercial poster series, which includes Narrative Collapse II (1981/2013), showcases icons like Judy Garland and Che Guevara. The 1990s American Color series features works like I'm Ok, You're Ok (1992) and ACv2.6 (2012). Additionally, a sound piece from 1984 includes the phrase "Come closer... you disappear me."
Key facts
- Julia Wachtel's first UK solo exhibition occurred in 2013
- Her career began in 1980s New York alongside the Pictures Generation
- She creates large canvases combining cartoon figures from greeting cards with news media images
- What, What, What (1988) features erotic card imagery with bizarre newsprint photos
- Narrative Collapse II (1981/2013) sequences commercial posters of figures like Judy Garland and Che Guevara
- American Color series from the 1990s uses monochrome canvases with silkscreened found imagery
- The exhibition includes a 1984 sound piece with the phrase "Come closer... you disappear me"
- Her work explores media appropriation, identity construction, and meaning's obscurity
Entities
Artists
- Julia Wachtel
- Judy Garland
- Che Guevara
- Davey Crockett
- Elvis
Institutions
- ArtReview
Locations
- New York
- United States
- United Kingdom