Exhibitions 2007

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Marcus Kenney: Topics in American History, June 27 - Sep. 16, 2007

This summer, the Telfair is pleased to present an exhibition of the work of Savannah resident Marcus Kenney. A native of Cooter’s Point, Louisiana, Kenney moved to Savannah in 1995 to pursue an M.F.A. in photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Following the completion of his degree, he began producing his signature mixed-media pieces composed largely of found materials.

Kenney collects castoff objects — old photographs, magazines and newspapers, wallpaper, even segments of crumbling wall — which he then assembles into compelling, skillfully composed works of art. Through the very nature of the materials utilized, Kenney’s work raises issues of loss, reclamation, and memory. Working within the tradition of collage and assemblage, he produces objects ranging in mood from sentimental to satirical, placid to provocative. Despite the innocent, childish characters that populate many of his pieces, Kenney’s art addresses weighty topics of race, authority, colonization, consumerism, environmentalism, religion, and mortality.

Kenney has been inspired to some degree by his immediate surroundings. Savannah - its history, its people, and its inimitable blend of polish and decay - has provided much of the raw material for the artist’s work. Yet, in recent years, Kenney’s work has attracted national attention. In addition to Marcia Wood Gallery in Atlanta, Kenney’s work has been shown in venues ranging from Art Basel/Miami Beach to galleries in New York City and Boston. His work is held in the permanent collections of the Telfair Museum of Art and the Savannah College of Art and Design as well as in numerous private and corporate collections.

This exhibition, the most comprehensive museum presentation of Kenney’s work to date, will include mixed-media works and sculpture dating from 1999 to the present, with a focus on pieces that address aspects of American history and culture. The exhibition will also include a dramatic installation for the Barbara H. and John E. Cay Jr. Grand Staircase at the Jepson Center. Marcus Kenney: Topics in American History will be accompanied by an illustrated catalogue, produced in association with the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Exhibitions

Now on view
2005 / 2006 / 2007