Parallel Lines exhibition at Merton D. Simpson Gallery rethinks modern and tribal art pairings

The Merton D. Simpson Gallery in New York City is hosting "Parallel Lines," an exhibition that interrogates the contentious history of combining modern and tribal art, a debate ignited by the 1984 "Primitivism" exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. Curated by Donna Harkavy, the display features four contemporary artists of diverse backgrounds—Willie Cole, Bettina Blohm, Joan Witek, and Carol Hepper—alongside artifacts from Africa and Oceania. The gallery, which focuses on African and Oceanic art, presents pieces like Cole's 2006 "Procession" and a Mossi Antelope Dance Mask from Burkina Faso. The exhibition, running until September 19 at 38 West 28th Street, seeks to highlight shared aesthetics while maintaining a balance between contemporary and indigenous art.