BROOKLYN, NY – 440 Gallery is proud to announce the 2024 Summer Theme Exhibition, Artistic Muscles, juried by Christina Massey, featuring 25 artists selected from a national call. This showcase of contemporary, multimedia works celebrates the artist as athlete and creator. Exercising the athleticism inherent in artmaking, this exhibit presents the physicality and discipline behind artistic creativity.
From 1912 to 1952, the Olympics awarded 151 medals for painting, sculpture, architecture, literature and music, alongside those for athletic competition. Celebrating this history, we will look at art as an athletic feat, stretching creative muscles. Artistic Muscles is a fun exploration of the deep intersection of sport and art — relating the depiction of athletic feats to the physicality of artmaking. These works exemplify the emotional high of achievement, while comparing it to the sportsmanship of competition.
Massey writes:
“The concept of Artistic Muscles was inspired upon discovering that Olympics had given awards for achievements in the Arts. Despite the stereotype of artists being unathletic, many artists play sports, enjoy them or are quite athletic in their artistic process, relying on the body’s ability to create their work. Selected works range from representational to abstract and showcase a wide variety of traditional sports from basketball, running and swimming to the exercises typically associated with creative types like dance and yoga. Some works focus on the muscles or bones themselves, while others show the brain as the ultimate creative flex. Throughout the show, you’ll also notice several works that feature gold, silver and bronze tones as a nod to the Olympic awards.”
On view: July 11 – August 2, 2024
Opening Reception: July 11, 5-7 pm
About 440 Gallery: 440 Gallery presents engaging art to the community through exhibitions, talks, readings and events centered around direct contact with the artist. Open Thursday, Friday 4-7pm, Saturday, Sunday 12-6pm, or by appointment. 440 Gallery is in Park Slope, convenient to the F, M, and R subways.
Moreinformation: 440gallery.com
Performance for the camera, photograph taken by Paul Takeuchi, 15×10 inches
