Exhibition dedicated to Carrie Mae Weems will open at the Barbican

First major UK solo exhibition of renowned American artist Carrie Mae Weems to open at Barbican Art Gallery this June.

Image: Carrie Mae Weems, portrait by Jerry Klineberg. © Carrie Mae Weems. Courtesy of the artist, Jack Shainman Gallery, New York / Galerie Barbara Thumm, Berlin

The Barbican Art Gallery is hosting the first major solo exhibition of Carrie Mae Weems, a renowned American artist known for her exploration of cultural identity, power structures, and social justice. The exhibition showcases a wide range of Weems's work, including photography series, films, and installations spanning over three decades, with some pieces being shown in the UK for the first time.

Weems gained recognition in the 1980s for challenging the representation of Black subjects and exposing systemic racism. The exhibition features notable works such as From Here I Saw What Happened and I Cried, which critiques stereotypes through the use of historical photographs, and Constructing History, a collaborative project recreating significant moments from the twentieth century. Lincoln, Lonnie, and Me is an installation that reexamines collective traumas through a historical lens.

Carrie Mae Weems. The Louvre from Museums, 2006. © Carrie Mae Weems. Courtesy of the artist, Jack Shainman Gallery, New York / Galerie Barbara Thumm, Berlin

This exhibition is the largest presentation of Weems's multidisciplinary work in the UK, highlighting the performative and cinematic nature of her art. The centerpiece is the panoramic film The Shape of Things, which consists of seven chapters addressing the current political climate and the enduring consequences of structural oppression and violence in the United States. Weems's art encourages viewers to actively engage, confront biases, and reclaim history. The gallery space will immerse visitors with images and sound, reflecting her interest in language, rhythm, and music, while also expressing her opposition to racial violence and dedication to social change.

Image: CarrieMaeWeems, Lincoln, Lonnie, and Me - A Story in 5 Parts (detail) 2012. © Carrie Mae Weems
Courtesy of the artist, Jack Shainman Gallery, New York / Galerie Barbara Thumm, Berlin

Accompanying the exhibition is the publication Carrie Mae Weems: Reflections for Now, featuring the artist's writings and intellectual influence. The exhibition also includes a program of events, including film screenings at the Barbican cinema. This exhibition provides a platform to explore Weems's critical examination of representation, race, and historical narratives, while inviting visitors to actively participate in reshaping the understanding of our shared history.

Date: 22 June – 3 September 2023. Location: Barbican Art Gallery, Silk St, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS. Price: from £16. Concessions available. Book now.