Artists Space

LIFE—a group show
Curated by Arnold J. Kemp

May 29 – August 9, 2025

Art, given the right circumstances, could get very small, hermetic and quiet—or big and messy. It could look like, to quote the painter and poet Etel Adnan, "the big mess of having a life."
— Arnold J. Kemp

Artists Space is pleased to announce LIFE—a group show, curated by Chicago-based artist and educator Arnold J. Kemp. In the words of its curator, this exhibition “is an armature that supports the continuation of a conversation that I was having with the artist Pope.L (1955 - 2023) for four years before his untimely passing.” Spanning the entire ground floor, LIFE—a group show features a dynamic array of forms—paintings, sculptures, objects, architectural interventions, videos, live performances, and newly commissioned poetry, that express the joyful, mundane, and atrociously unstable textures of sheer existence.

Participating artists include: Lindsay Adams, Zarouhie Abdalian, Israel Aten, Nick Bastis, Nayland Blake, Gregg Bordowitz, Carolyn Castaño, Patty Chang, Mike Cloud, D’Talentz (Nikita Gale, Aryel René Jackson, Tomashi Jackson, Ashley Teamer), Christopher Garrett, Renee Gladman, Robert Glück, Lydia Grey, Léonie Guyer, David Hammons, Geoffrey Hendricks, Xylor Jane, Margaret L. Kemp, Kristan Kennedy, Jinn Bronwen Lee, Eric N. Mack, Devin T. Mays, Malcolm Peacock, Pope.L, Nick Raffel, Ed Ruscha, Robert Ryman, Mindy Rose Schwartz, Cauleen Smith, Cameron Spratley, Catherine Sullivan (with George Lewis and Sean Griffin), Collection of Sur Rodney (Sur), Mami Takahashi, Christine Tien Wang, Fred Wilson, and poets David Buuck, Tonya Foster, Erica Hunt, and John Keene.

Gregg Bordowitz will present a performance on Thursday, June 5th at 7pm.

A large white MDF board rests against a gray wall. A series of metal sardine cans are placed across the MDF board in a loose grid.
William Pope.L, Maybe, 2009-2010. MDF board, sardine cans, plastic bag, cardboard box, nails, electrical extension cord, paint, graphite. 96 x 96 x 18 inches. [A large white MDF board rests against a gray wall. A series of metal sardine cans are placed across the MDF board in a loose grid.]

Renowned for work that upended conventions around race, language, masculinity, and citizenship, Pope.L’s practice was both radical and intimate—qualities that resonate throughout this exhibition. While it is not a memorial, the presentation stems from what Kemp describes as “an engagement against the amnesia that surfaces after a loved one passes.” Rather than closing a chapter, the show extends the vitality of an ongoing dialogue, by gathering emerging and established artists, writers, and performers who join Pope.L and Kemp in confronting the complexity, absurdity, and materiality of being alive.

LIFE—a group show is Kemp’s first curatorial project in two decades. Emerging in the early 1990s, his speculative, conceptually rich practice has been matched by astute and visionary curatorial work, a pursuit he began in 1993 when he was Associate Curator at the Yerba Buena Art Center in San Francisco. Through the intertwined pathways of his career, Kemp has held a sustained interrogation of themes around identity, stereotypes, and notions of “sameness.” A significant figure in conceptual and performance art, his approach to curation mirrors his broader artistic practice: intuitive, interdisciplinary, and deeply rooted in summoning Black experience without solidifying it into a stable identity. Reflecting on his past curatorial work with figures like Mark Dion, Laylah Ali, Tracey Moffatt, Viola Frey, and in the case of musician duo Matmos, Kemp writes: “in that exhibition, life and the real world met art in a way that encapsulated what I wanted to most do as a curator, which was to get out of the way of what art and artists can do and to simply allow art to happen, just like a UFO sighting, a cloud or a sudden rainstorm.”

At its heart, LIFE—a group show offers the exhibition itself as a kind of living structure—a densely networked constellation for holding feeling, contradiction, and dialogue. Kemp’s acute vision brings together a multivocal, intergenerational gathering of artists who, each in their own way, respond to the dissonance and intensity of being here—together, now.

A series of candles, each made of layers of red, white, and blue wax, are placed on an aluminum shelf. From the front, the shape of the candles spell out "LOVE."
Nayland Blake, Rafts (detail), 2019. Wax and aluminum. 3 aluminum shelves, each: 8 x 20 x 60 inches. 60 wax candles, each: 7 1/2 x 7 x 1 7/8 inches. ©Nayland Blake, Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery. [A series of candles, each made of layers of red, white, and blue wax, are placed on an aluminum shelf. From the front, the shape of the candles spell out "LOVE."]

June 5, 2025

Gregg Bordowitz:
One Night Only
Lecture
7pm

A display case holding an assortment of artist memoriabilia from letters, art objects, paintings, books, and zines. To the left of the display case is metal, grocery divider hung on the wall, and to the left of this is a framed painting illustrating an array of characters. On the wall above is vinyl lettering that reads "LIFE — a group show."
LIFE—a group show, curated by Arnold J. Kemp. Installation view, Artists Space, 2025. Photo: Carter Seddon [A display case holding an assortment of artist memoriabilia from letters, art objects, paintings, books, and zines. To the left of the display case is metal, grocery divider hung on the wall, and to the left of this is a framed painting illustrating an array of characters. On the wall above is vinyl lettering that reads "LIFE — a group show."]
The gallery space displays an assortment of artworks on the left wall. On the far left, closest to the viewer, is a painting of Pope Francis with a top text reading "I WOKE UP LIKE THIS" and a bottom text reading "...FLAWLESS." An assortment of art objects, shelves, framed paintings, sculptural installations, and digital media recede into the gallery space along this wall. On the right a row of columns recede into the gallery space.
LIFE—a group show, curated by Arnold J. Kemp. Installation view, Artists Space, 2025. Photo: Carter Seddon [The gallery space displays an assortment of artworks on the left wall. On the far left, closest to the viewer, is a painting of Pope Francis with a top text reading "I WOKE UP LIKE THIS" and a bottom text reading "...FLAWLESS." An assortment of art objects, shelves, framed paintings, sculptural installations, and digital media recede into the gallery space along this wall. On the right a row of columns recede into the gallery space.]
An assortment of artworks are seen in the large gallery space. On the left, an assemblage of materials affixed to the wall on floor connected through a metal thread. Behind are framed works and a plinth displaying colorful sculptures. In the right of the gallery are red, white, and blue wax candles spelling "LOVE" sitting abundantly on metal armatures. Further to the right is a colorful artwork forming the Star of David, and behind on the gallery walls are glimpses of assemblage artworks.
LIFE—a group show, curated by Arnold J. Kemp. Installation view, Artists Space, 2025. Photo: Carter Seddon [An assortment of artworks are seen in the large gallery space. On the left, an assemblage of materials affixed to the wall on floor connected through a metal thread. Behind are framed works and a plinth displaying colorful sculptures. In the right of the gallery are red, white, and blue wax candles spelling "LOVE" sitting abundantly on metal armatures. Further to the right is a colorful artwork forming the Star of David, and behind on the gallery walls are glimpses of assemblage artworks.]
At the bottom of the gallery wall sits a small shelf housing a pair of construction boots that are extremely worn in and covered in white paint.
LIFE—a group show, curated by Arnold J. Kemp. Installation view (William Pope.L's boots, 2003), Artists Space, 2025. Photo: Carter Seddon [At the bottom of the gallery wall sits a small shelf housing a pair of construction boots that are extremely worn in and covered in white paint.]
An assortment of artworks are seen in the large gallery space. On the left wall, a painting reading "NIGHTMARE" at a vertical angle with images of skulls, stars, and abstracted forms superimposed on top, as well as a framed painting to the right. In the center of the room is a gridded artwork with letters inside, a table behind displaying two ceramic works, and metal armatures with red, white, and blue wax candles spelling "LOVE." The space is divided by a row of columns with both framed and hung paintings behind.
LIFE—a group show, curated by Arnold J. Kemp. Installation view, Artists Space, 2025. Photo: Carter Seddon [An assortment of artworks are seen in the large gallery space. On the left wall, a painting reading "NIGHTMARE" at a vertical angle with images of skulls, stars, and abstracted forms superimposed on top, as well as a framed painting to the right. In the center of the room is a gridded artwork with letters inside, a table behind displaying two ceramic works, and metal armatures with red, white, and blue wax candles spelling "LOVE." The space is divided by a row of columns with both framed and hung paintings behind.]
In the center of the gallery space wall rests a large, square MDF wall with a grid of empty sardine cans. To the left of this MDF wall is a chair adorned with various objects, and in the forefront red, white, and blue wax candles spelling "LOVE." To the right of the MDF wall is an artwork on the floor in the spce of the Star of David with painted text on top. On the wall is a black and white painting and a framed text drawing.
LIFE—a group show, curated by Arnold J. Kemp. Installation view, Artists Space, 2025. Photo: Carter Seddon [In the center of the gallery space wall rests a large, square MDF wall with a grid of empty sardine cans. To the left of this MDF wall is a chair adorned with various objects, and in the forefront red, white, and blue wax candles spelling "LOVE." To the right of the MDF wall is an artwork on the floor in the spce of the Star of David with painted text on top. On the wall is a black and white painting and a framed text drawing.]
An assortment of artworks are seen in the large gallery space. On the left wall rests a framed text drawing, a shelf holding a display of photographs, and in the corner a television playing a video. The wall to the right displays two paintings. On the floor in front of these walls in a table with two ceramic works and gridded artwork on the floor. The space is divided by columns receding into the back of the gallery space.
LIFE—a group show, curated by Arnold J. Kemp. Installation view, Artists Space, 2025. Photo: Carter Seddon [An assortment of artworks are seen in the large gallery space. On the left wall rests a framed text drawing, a shelf holding a display of photographs, and in the corner a television playing a video. The wall to the right displays two paintings. On the floor in front of these walls in a table with two ceramic works and gridded artwork on the floor. The space is divided by columns receding into the back of the gallery space.]
Along the gallery wall is an assemblage of objects hanging off the wall and to the floor connected by metal thread. Further down the wall is a painting, a plinth of colorful sculptures, a framed artwork, and a television playing a video in the corner. In the back is a glimpse of an alcove with three artworks appearing as colorful stripes, grey and yellow on the wall, and black on the floor.
LIFE—a group show, curated by Arnold J. Kemp. Installation view, Artists Space, 2025. Photo: Carter Seddon [Along the gallery wall is an assemblage of objects hanging off the wall and to the floor connected by metal thread. Further down the wall is a painting, a plinth of colorful sculptures, a framed artwork, and a television playing a video in the corner. In the back is a glimpse of an alcove with three artworks appearing as colorful stripes, grey and yellow on the wall, and black on the floor.]
Along the gallery wall from left to right is an assemblage scultpure of found objects ranging from lightbulbs to racoon tails. To the right is a sculpture of chicken wings dangling from the wall. Further along is an offwhite square nearly flush with the wall. And on the floor sits a chair adorned with cloth and green onion.
LIFE—a group show, curated by Arnold J. Kemp. Installation view, Artists Space, 2025. Photo: Carter Seddon [Along the gallery wall from left to right is an assemblage scultpure of found objects ranging from lightbulbs to racoon tails. To the right is a sculpture of chicken wings dangling from the wall. Further along is an offwhite square nearly flush with the wall. And on the floor sits a chair adorned with cloth and green onion.]
To the left sits a chair adorned in cloth and green onion. On the gallery wall is a square MDF wall with graddied sardine cans along in. On the floor in front of this MDF wall is an assortment of objects: bag, box, electrical cord, and more sardine cans.
LIFE—a group show, curated by Arnold J. Kemp. Installation view (Kristan Kennedy, B.E.W.E.L.L.P.O.P.E.L., 2025; Pope.L, Maybe, 2009-2010), Artists Space, 2025. Photo: Carter Seddon [To the left sits a chair adorned in cloth and green onion. On the gallery wall is a square MDF wall with graddied sardine cans along in. On the floor in front of this MDF wall is an assortment of objects: bag, box, electrical cord, and more sardine cans.]
Two ceramic works sit in the foreground on a table. The left ceramic is painted with bricks and the right ceramic is painted with line. In the back is a square, MDF wall of gridded sardine cans and a black and white painting.
LIFE—a group show, curated by Arnold J. Kemp. Installation view, Artists Space, 2025. Photo: Carter Seddon [Two ceramic works sit in the foreground on a table. The left ceramic is painted with bricks and the right ceramic is painted with line. In the back is a square, MDF wall of gridded sardine cans and a black and white painting.]
On the left wall of the fallery space sits of shelf containing a display case of photographs and jars. In the corner of the walls sits a televion on the floor playing a video. On the right wall is a painting vertically reading "NIGHTMARE" with skulls, stars, and abstracted forms superimposed on top. To the right of this is a framed landscape. A painted ceramic sits on a table in the foreground.
LIFE—a group show, curated by Arnold J. Kemp. Installation view, Artists Space, 2025. Photo: Carter Seddon [On the left wall of the fallery space sits of shelf containing a display case of photographs and jars. In the corner of the walls sits a televion on the floor playing a video. On the right wall is a painting vertically reading "NIGHTMARE" with skulls, stars, and abstracted forms superimposed on top. To the right of this is a framed landscape. A painted ceramic sits on a table in the foreground.]
Two televisons sit on the wall, bisected with hung grocery dividers. The television on the left displays a video of a news anchor with the bottom text "A descendant of Evita." The television on the right displays a video of four squares with people surrounded in foliage. These squares are superimposed on a backdrop of more foliage.
LIFE—a group show, curated by Arnold J. Kemp. Installation view (Carolyn Castaño, The Female Report, 2011; D’Talentz, The Secret Garden, 2020), Artists Space, 2025. Photo: Carter Seddon [Two televisons sit on the wall, bisected with hung grocery dividers. The television on the left displays a video of a news anchor with the bottom text "A descendant of Evita." The television on the right displays a video of four squares with people surrounded in foliage. These squares are superimposed on a backdrop of more foliage.]
A display case holds three Christmas stockings labeled "Mami, William, and Desmond." There are two Christmas trees and cards at the bottom along with an assortment of Christmas paraphernalia.
LIFE—a group show, curated by Arnold J. Kemp. Installation view (Pope.L and Mami Takahashi, Family, 2025), Artists Space, 2025. Photo: Carter Seddon [A display case holds three Christmas stockings labeled "Mami, William, and Desmond." There are two Christmas trees and cards at the bottom along with an assortment of Christmas paraphernalia.]
A projected video displays a black and white still of two black men looking at each other. We see the back of one of these men
LIFE—a group show, curated by Arnold J. Kemp. Installation view (Nick Raffel, No title, 2025; Catherine Sullivan in collaboration with George Lewis and Sean Griffin, Afterword via Fantasia, 2015), Artists Space, 2025. Photo: Carter Seddon [A projected video displays a black and white still of two black men looking at each other. We see the back of one of these men's heads and the furrowed face of the other. A speaker sits in front of the projection. And although subtle, the corners of the gallery walls are curved as opposed to perpendicular.]
On the left gallery wall is a sheet of paper listing the credits of Catherine Sullivan
LIFE—a group show, curated by Arnold J. Kemp. Installation view (Catherine Sullivan in collaboration with George Lewis and Sean Griffin, Afterword via Fantasia, 2015; Nick Raffel, No title, 2025), Artists Space, 2025. Photo: Carter Seddon [On the left gallery wall is a sheet of paper listing the credits of Catherine Sullivan's film "Afterword Via Fantasia." On the right gallery wall is a still image from this film featuring Pope L wearing a suit.]

Arnold J. Kemp (b. 1968) is a visual artist, writer, and educator who previously was an associate curator at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts from 1993 – 2003. During his curatorial tenure Kemp created opportunities for solo shows for influential artists such as Ellen Gallagher, Tracey Moffat, Fred Wilson and Mark Dion. He also worked with artists such as David Hammons, Octavia Butler, Sun Ra Research, Kerry James Marshall, Bruce Conner, John Baldessari and others in accomplished group exhibitions. As an artist Kemp engages in a multidisciplinary practice that extends beyond the formal gallery system by taking the form of talks, performances, limited-edition artist’s books, and collaborations. In the same spirit Kemp creates art works in various formats, for example, writing, painting, performance, video and sculpture. His works are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, the Portland Art Museum, the Schneider Museum of Art, the Tacoma Art Museum, The Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, the Hammer Art Museum, The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar and The Joan Flasch Artists' Book Collection. Recent exhibitions include solo presentations at the Neubauer Collegium, University of Chicago; M. LeBlanc, Chicago; Martos Gallery, New York; JOAN, Los Angeles; Biquini Wax, Mexico City, Mexico; and Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockland, ME.

Exhibition support for LIFE—a group show is provided by The Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art Gallery, Reed College, Elizabeth Leach Gallery, and Sarah Miller Meigs. Support is provided by Bernard I. Lumpkin and Carmine D. Boccuzzi. In kind support is provided by Marc LeBlanc.

Support for Artists Space exhibitions and programs is provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Lambent Foundation Fund of Tides Foundation, Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council, The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, The Keith Haring Foundation, I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation, Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, The Cowles Charitable Trust, Lotos Foundation, Milton and Sally Avery Foundation, and the Friends of Artists Space.