East Hudson Valley News

The Dia Art Foundation has announced the opening of a long-term exhibition of early work by the renowned artist Roni Horn at Dia Beacon in New York. This exhibition marks Horn's first solo institutional exhibition in New York in 16 years. It showcases a selection of the artist's sculptures and drawings from the 1980s, exploring themes of materiality, perception, and identity. The exhibition originally began in December 2024 with the room-size installation of "Post Work 3" (1986) and will continue with an expanded presentation starting on April 11, 2025.

Jessica Morgan, Dia’s Nathalie de Gunzburg Director, described the exhibition as "a rare opportunity to experience the depth and rigor of Roni Horn’s early practice, illuminating the profound ways in which her sculptures and drawings engage with space, the viewer, and the conditions of the environment." She notes that while Horn's work was first exhibited at the Dia Center for the Arts in New York in 2001, this is the first time her work will be displayed at Dia Beacon. The exhibition will be in close proximity to works by Horn's peers such as Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Donald Judd, and Senga Nengudi.

Since the late 1970s, Horn's practice has spanned a range of mediums including sculpture, drawing, photography, installation, and text. Her work focuses on the fluidity of identity, both of the self and the object, considering shifting conditions of space, materials, and viewer interaction.

At the core of the exhibition are nine metal sculptures from Dia’s permanent collection, including "Mass Removal II" (1982–83) and "Things That Happen Again" (1986/90). These pieces explore the possibilities of materials like iron, lead, and copper, challenging the Minimalist movement's focus on the autonomous object by imbuing the works with human subjectivity.

Horn's early drawings are also featured, employing powdered pigment mixed with turpentine and varnish to create vibrant, tactile works that echo her sculptures. These pieces incorporate visible cut lines that emphasize themes of transformation and perception.

The exhibition, installed across three galleries at Dia Beacon, creates a dynamic interplay between Horn’s sculptures and drawings, inviting the viewer into a constant negotiation. Donna De Salvo, senior adjunct curator, special projects, notes, "These rarely seen works are fundamental to understanding and appreciating Roni Horn’s career-long investigation of the specific qualities of certain materials and their metaphorical potential, setting the stage for later developments."

Roni Horn is curated by Donna De Salvo with Min Sun Jeon, assistant curator. The exhibition is made possible by Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis, Kukje Art and Culture Foundation, and Peter Lund, with all Dia exhibitions supported by the Economou Exhibition Fund.

Horn, born in New York in 1955, has had a prolific career with her work displayed in significant exhibitions worldwide. Her practice continues to challenge and engage with fundamental artistic questions on identity and materiality.

Dia Art Foundation, founded in 1974, aims to support ambitious artistic projects. In addition to Dia Beacon, it operates various installations and projects in New York and beyond, remaining a key platform for contemporary art.