Artists Space

Char Jeré: Zoo or an Orchestra

December 13 – February 17

Artists Space is pleased to present Zoo or an Orchestra, the first solo exhibition by New York–based artist Char Jeré.

Color image of a piece of matted brown material, placed on top of a newspaper. In the center of the matted material, a glass eye with a bright blue iris is left uncovered. The left edge of the image is obscured by strands of black hair hanging down.
Photo: Elisheva Gavra, Courtesy of the artist. [Color image of a piece of matted brown material, placed on top of a newspaper. In the center of the matted material, a glass eye with a bright blue iris is left uncovered. The left edge of the image is obscured by strands of black hair hanging down.]

Jeré considers themselves an Afro-fractalist whose work focuses on the nonlinear temporality created within the African diaspora. Their work across sound, sculpture, filmmaking, and installation centers on the long history and evolving future of the relationship between race and technology. Zoo or an Orchestra, their multisensory project for Artists Space, comprises a dense, multimedia, installation-as-opera in four movements created from both found and archival materials—a reflection on the memories we share with those we’ve only briefly met, others we’ve never met, those who we’ve known for a long time, or the ones we’ve yet to meet.

The artist Char Jeré merges their background in data science with a passion for social, economic, and environmental justice. Before receiving an MFA in sound art from the Computer Music Center at Columbia University in 2023, Jeré earned an MS in Data Analytics and Visualization from Pratt Institute in 2021.

Exhibition support for Char Jeré: Zoo or an Orchestra is provided by Candy and Michael Barasch, Olivier Beggruen, Bernard I. Lumpkin and Carmine D. Boccuzzi. Additional in-kind support is provided by River East Elementary School and donateNYC. This project was supported, in part, by a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant.

Support for Artists Space’s exhibitions and programs is provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Lambent Foundation Fund of Tides Foundation, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation, The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, The Cowles Charitable Trust, The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, and the Herman Goldman Foundation.

    Color image of an old wooden cabinet, with the doors open revealing various objects placed on the shelves including: a black kettle, a glass jar with eggshells, a white bust, a clock, a fire alarm, a book, Comet bleach, and empty glass bottles
    Photo: Elisheva Gavra, Courtesy of the artist. [Color image of an old wooden cabinet, with the doors open revealing various objects placed on the shelves including: a black kettle, a glass jar with eggshells, a white bust, a clock, a fire alarm, a book, Comet bleach, and empty glass bottles]