Sadie Benning's War Credits and Recent Works at New Museum Survey

In 1993, Sadie Benning made her debut at the Whitney Biennial with a DIY video filmed in her childhood bedroom using a toy black-and-white camera. This piece combined elements from a 1950s psychodrama featuring a murderous schoolgirl, hand-drawn signs, and her exploration of queer identity. Featured in the New Museum's 2013 exhibition NYC 1993: Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star, it showcased her as a talented young artist tackling gender issues. Her later works, like War Credits (2007–13), employ similar techniques to critique the militarization in America. Another video, In Parts (2012), juxtaposes unrelated personal clips, creating a feeling of disintegration. The exhibition also presents two wall reliefs inspired by 1960s abstract art, enhancing viewer anxiety. Benning's evolution from playful irreverence to a more poetic perspective reflects a poignant awareness of time and individual significance. The show coincided with her solo exhibition, marking her transition from early feminist video to broader societal critiques.