See the Eye-Catching Highlights of the 2017 Whitney Biennial

There are plenty of exciting works at the museum's marquee event.

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John Kessler. Exodus (2016)Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
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Cauleen Smith In The Wake (2017). Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
Cauleen Smith In The Wake (2017). Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
Occupy Museums, Debtfair (2017). Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
Occupy Museums, Debtfair (2017). Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
Aliza Nisenbaum, Latin Runners Club (2016). Image: Ben Davis.
aliza nisenbaum
Aliza Nisenbaum, Latin Runners Club (2016). Image: Ben Davis.
Dana Schutz Elevator (2017). Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
Dana Schutz Elevator (2017). Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
John Kessler. Exodus (2016)Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
John Kessler,Exodus (2016)Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
Casey Gollan and Victoria Sobel, Reflections (2017). Image: Ben Davis.
casey gollan and victoria sobel
Casey Gollan and Victoria Sobel, Reflections (2017). Image: Ben Davis.
Sculptures and stained-glass window by Raúl de Nieves. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
Sculptures and stained-glass window by Raúl de Nieves. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
Larry Bell's Pacific Red (2016) on view at the Whitney Museum. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
Larry Bell's Pacific Red (2016) on view at the Whitney Museum. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
Paintings by Carrie Moyer. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
William Pope L Claim (Whitney Version) (2014). Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
William Pope L, Claim (Whitney Version) (2014). Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
Works from John Riepenhoff's "Handler" series. Image: Ben Davis.
John Riepenhoff.
Works from John Riepenhoff's "Handler" series. Image: Ben Davis.
Room of paintings dedicated to Shara Hughes. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
Room of paintings dedicated to Shara Hughes. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
Painting by Henry Taylor. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
A painting by Henry Taylor in the 2017 Whitney Biennial. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
Photos from John Divola's "Abandoned Painting" series. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
Photos from John Divola's "Abandoned Painting" series. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
Oto Gillen, New York [still] (2015-). Image: Ben Davis.
oto gillen
Oto Gillen, New York [still] (2015-). Image: Ben Davis.
Works by Kaari Upson in the 2017 Whitney Biennial. Image: Ben Davis.
kaari upson
Works by Kaari Upson in the 2017 Whitney Biennial. Image: Ben Davis.
Sculptures and hanging assemblages by KAYA. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
Sculptures and hanging assemblages by KAYA. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
Jessi Reaves, Body Sized Shelf with Zippers (2017) and Herman's Dress (2017). Image: Ben Davis.
jessi reeves
Jessi Reaves, Body Sized Shelf with Zippers (2017) and Herman's Dress (2017). Image: Ben Davis.
Celeste Dupuy-Spencer, Trump Rally (And Some of Them I Assume Are Good People) (2016). Image: Ben Davis.
celeste dupey-spencer
Celeste Dupuy-Spencer, Trump Rally (And Some of Them I Assume Are Good People) (2016). Image: Ben Davis.
Paintings by Tala Madani. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
Paintings by Tala Madani. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
Paintings by Jo Baer. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
Paintings by Jo Baer. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
Photos by Deanna Lawson. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
Photos by Deanna Lawson. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
Photos by An-My Lê in the Whitney Biennial 2017. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
Photos by An-My Lê in the Whitney Biennial 2017. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
Visitors playing videogames by Porpentine Charity Heartscape With Those We Love Alive (2014). Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
Visitors playing experimental videogames by Porpentine Charity Heartscape With Those We Love Alive (2014). Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
Asad Raza. Root Sequence, Mother Tongue (2017). Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
Asad Raza. Root Sequence, Mother Tongue (2017). Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
Visitors experiencing Jordan Wolfson's Real Violence (2017) virtual reality artwork. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
The 2017 Whitney Biennial
Visitors experiencing Jordan Wolfson's Real Violence (2017) virtual reality artwork. Photo: Henri Neuendorf.
GCC, Local Police Find Fruit With Spells (2017). Image: Ben Davis
gcc
GCC, Local Police Find Fruit With Spells (2017). Image: Ben Davis
Performance by Puppies Puppies featuring a live performer costumed as the Statue of Liberty, on the roof terrace of the Whitney Biennial. Image: Ben Davis.
puppies puppies
Performance by Puppies Puppies featuring a live performer costumed as the Statue of Liberty, on the roof terrace of the Whitney Biennial. Image: Ben Davis.

The Whitney Biennial opened for the press this morning, the first time the museum held the signature event in its new Meatpacking District location. The eponymous museum’s survey exhibition on the state of art-making in America features 63 artists, duos, and collectives from across the country.

The first thing that catches the eye is the level of diversity, both in terms of participants and mediums. There’s a lot of painting, a diverse cast of artists, and a wide array of different types of art, from the traditional oil and acrylic on canvas and sculpture to new virtual reality, video games, and film.

Curators Christopher Y. Lew and Mia Locks also selected 11 foreign-born participants and seven artists that work outside of the US, reflective of the Whitney Museum’s increasing revision of the criteria of what it means to be an American and what constitutes American art.

Ahead of the official opening of the highly-anticipated show, here’s a glimpse of what it all looks like, and what to expect.

“The 2017 Whitney Biennial” runs from March 17 – June 11, 2017 at The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.


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