Ward Shelley's Borgesian Taxonomies and Utilitarian Charts at Pierogi Gallery

From April 3 to May 8, 2016, Ward Shelley showcased two interrelated pieces at the Pierogi gallery. One of the highlights was "The Felicific Calculus," a collection of acrylic artworks on Mylar that delves into historical narratives through the lens of consumerism. The other piece, "The Last Library," created in collaboration with Douglas Paulson, features shelves filled with mock books categorized under nonsensical classifications, satirizing the organization of knowledge. Shelley's paintings employ biological imagery, such as a dissected frog and a reinterpreted Cubism layout, to depict advancements of the 20th century. His work draws inspiration from Jeremy Bentham's Utilitarianism and critiques classification systems noted in Borges's 1942 essay. The exhibition took place at 155 Suffolk Street, New York, situated between Houston and Stanton streets.