Opening at Thaddaeus Ropac Paris Pantin from September 21, exhibition “Expanded Horizons: American Art in the 70s” assembles a remarkable collection of works by 21 influential artists from the United States during a pivotal decade. This exhibition reflects the radical artistic developments of the 1970s, showcasing how these artists challenged contemporary notions of art through innovative materials, immersive environments, and socio-political engagement.
The exhibition captures a decade marked by socio-political upheaval, including protests against the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement. Artists such as Robert Rauschenberg and James Rosenquist responded to this climate by expanding their artistic practices beyond traditional boundaries. Rauschenberg’s monumental “Bank Job” (1979) and Rosenquist’s immersive installation “Horizon Home Sweet Home” exemplify a shift toward large-scale, three-dimensional works that envelop viewers in their physical presence.
EXHIBITIONS
The exhibition also highlights significant movements, such as the feminist art movement led by figures like Judy Chicago and Joan Snyder. Chicago’s pyrotechnic performances challenged conventional exhibition formats, while Snyder’s use of found materials and personal narratives pushed the boundaries of abstraction. Her work, “Vanishing Theatre/The Cut” (1974), exemplifies this intersection of autobiography and materiality.
In contrast, artists like Robert Morris and Donald Judd explored the relationship between form and material, emphasizing the inherent qualities of their chosen media. Morris’s “Untitled (Brown Felt)” showcases a softer materiality that responds to gravity, while Judd’s use of color and space in his sculptural works focuses on the importance of objecthood in a rapidly changing art world.
The exhibition presents a historical survey of the 1970s but also encourages viewers to consider the relevance of these artists’ inquiries into the nature of art, changing the way we think and create today. “Expanded Horizons: American Art in the 70s” exhibition will be on view at Thaddaeus Ropac Paris Pantin from September 21, 2024, to January 25, 2025.
