ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Seriously. Exhibition at Sprüth Magers London Explores Humour as Critical Art Strategy

exhibition · 2026-04-19

Running until 31 January 2026 at Sprüth Magers in London, the exhibition "Seriously." emphasizes the importance of humor in modern art. Featuring over 60 artists, it delves into themes of wit, absurdity, and irony across cultural, political, and social landscapes. John Baldessari and William Wegman demonstrate the relationship between humor, intellect, and popular culture. Conceptual humor is explored through the works of Bas Jan Ader and Keith Arnatt, while Lynda Benglis and Helen Chadwick employ performance and installation to create visual jokes. Additionally, Philip-Lorca diCorcia and Cao Fei provide socio-political insights. Artists such as Sarah Lucas and Cindy Sherman further challenge art hierarchies, underscoring humor's significance in bridging the gap between creators and audiences.

Key facts

  • Exhibition Seriously. at Sprüth Magers London
  • Runs until 31 January 2026
  • Features over 60 artists
  • Explores humour as critical instrument in art
  • Includes John Baldessari, William Wegman, Cindy Sherman
  • Spans photography, sculpture, video, installation
  • Challenges conventional art hierarchies
  • Curated to provoke intellectual engagement through wit

Entities

Artists

  • John Baldessari
  • William Wegman
  • Bas Jan Ader
  • Keith Arnatt
  • Bernd Becher
  • Hilla Becher
  • Lynda Benglis
  • Helen Chadwick
  • Robert Cumming
  • Thomas Demand
  • Philip-Lorca diCorcia
  • Cao Fei
  • Hans-Peter Feldmann
  • Barbara Hammer
  • Nancy Holt
  • Robert Smithson
  • Rebecca Horn
  • Sarah Lucas
  • Urs Lüthi
  • Louise Lawler
  • Cindy Sherman
  • Gillian Wearing
  • Rodneys Graham
  • Sigmar Polke
  • Charles Ray
  • Laurie Simmons
  • Anthony McCall
  • Jonathan Monk
  • Peter Moore
  • Bruce Nauman
  • Dennis Oppenheim
  • Ed Ruscha
  • Santiago Sierra
  • Carrie Mae Weems
  • Thomas Ruff
  • Andreas Gursky

Institutions

  • Sprüth Magers
  • Richard Saltoun Gallery
  • VG Bild-Kunst
  • DACS

Locations

  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Bonn
  • Germany
  • Düsseldorf
  • Rome
  • Italy
  • New York
  • United States

Sources