If you’ve exhausted your summer playlist, there is no shortage of mind-bending, experimental, and downright entertaining exhibitions in New York City this week. For a truly trippy way to kick off the city’s hottest month, head over to Brooklyn for VICE magazine’s and Pioneer Works’ 13th annual photo issue, Trompe-L’Oeil. Or, check out group exhibitions at Koenig & Clinton, Tibor de Nagy, and Peter Blum. If you find yourself wanting more, don’t miss the Sigmar Polke retrospective at MoMA. But if you’ve done enough double-takes for one afternoon, be sure to check out “they thought i were but i aren’t anymore…,” on view at Luhring Augustine.
Exhibition: “they thought i were but i aren’t anymore…”
When: June 7–August 1, 2014 (last call)
Where: Luhring Augustine, 531 W. 24th Street, New York, NY 10011
Why: This exhibition presents works by Larry Clark, spanning his career from 1961 to the present, starting with his earliest portrait of his friend Johnny Bridges.
Exhibition: “Traces”
When: May 29–August 1, 2014 (last call)
Where: Peter Blum, 20 W. 57th Street, New York, NY 10019
Why: “Traces” is an exciting group exhibition, featuring an eclectic, international group of artists, including John Beech, Huma Bhabha, Tacita Dean, Guillermo Faivovich, Nicolás Goldberg, Jonathan Marshall, Isabel Nolan, Nam June Paik, and Luisa Rabbia.
Exhibition: “Starting Out: 9 Abstract Painters 1958–1971”
When: June 5–August 1, 2014 (last call)
Where: Tibor de Nagy Gallery, 724 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10019
Why: The exhibition comprises nine large-scale paintings and a selection of smaller works on paper by nine abstract painters. “Starting Out: 9 Abstract Painters 1958–1971” is a testament to friendships and a much smaller art world.
Exhibition: “Fixing a Hole”
When: June 12–August 2, 2014 (last call)
Where: Koenig & Clinton, 459 W. 19th Street, New York, NY 10011
Why: “Fixing a Hole” is a group exhibition that is fixated on fixing in two senses: fixing as a means of mending, and fixing as a means of securing. The gallery has gathered a selection of works in various media. Whether by accident or design, the participants in this exhibition capture or address voids, elisions, reliefs, and absence. In all instances, the senses turn to the pre-lingual whole that is now missing.
Exhibition: “Alibis: Sigmar Polke 1963–2010”
When: April 19–August 3, 2014 (last call)
Where: MoMA, 11 W. 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019
Why: This is the first comprehensive retrospective of Sigmar Polke, encompassing his work across all media, including painting, photography, film, drawing, prints, and sculpture.
Exhibition: “VICE’s 13th annual Photo Issue”
When: July 31–August 10, 2014 (opens today)
Where: Pioneer Works, 159 Pioneer Street, Brooklyn, New York 11231
Why: VICE and Pioneer Works have partnered to present an exhibition of pictures from the magazine. Curated along an expanding of the term trompe l’oeil, this year’s edition is a dazzling showcase of smoke and mirrors, featuring photographic illusions and transformations of all kinds.