To celebrate the beginning of a spring that never seems to arrive, museums across the country are simply blooming with new programs to entice art-goers. From the never-before-seen sculptures of the late Jack Whitten in Baltimore to paintings fresh from the studio, here are the shows you don’t want to miss out on.
1. “No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man”
Smithsonian American Art Museum
March 30, 2018–January 21, 2019
The Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC, is awash with the psychedelic, awe-inducing designs culled from the yearly spectacle that takes over Nevada’s Black Rock Desert known as Burning Man. Beyond the mind-expanding music, the festival is a beacon for experimental art and architecture, but most pieces are ritually burned in the spirit of the event, making this exhibition all the more spectacular.
2. “Mel Chin: All Over the Place”
Queens Museum, New York
April 5–August 12, 2018
This spring and summer, Mel Chin is taking over New York City. The sprawling multi-disciplinary exhibition will hold more than 70 works produced over his four-decade-long career. The exhibition will address issues ranging from social justice to the environment and will debut four newly commissioned projects with mind-bending works of Mixed Reality in Times Square.
3. “You Are Here: Light, Color, and Sound Experiences”
North Carolina Museum of Art
April 7–July 22, 2018
The sense-stimulating immersive installations in “You Are Here” feature works that range from the inexplicable to the disconcerting. Highlights include projects by Sam Falls and OMAi/Markus Dorninger to be situated in the Museum’s outdoor park. And what an immersive exhibition without Kusama? The recently acquired Light of Life infinity room will be unveiled to the public. As an added bonus, the museum has partnered with Durham’s Fullsteam Brewery to release limited-edition IPA’s to enhance the immersive experience.
4. “Odyssey: Jack Whitten Sculpture, 1963–2017”
Baltimore Museum of Art
April 22–July 29, 2018
The never before seen sculptures created by the acclaimed artist Jack Whitten will be unveiled, at long last in Baltimore, before traveling to the Met in September. Though known for his paintings, the exhibit will focus on 40 sculptures that bear resemblance to African, Minoan, and Cycladian works—and for the first time ever, Whitten’s Black Monoliths series will be displayed in conjunction with his sculptural works. Read more