The ninth edition of the Performa Biennial focused on New York City as it re-emerged from the prolonged trauma of the pandemic that has radically altered our way of life, affecting the larger social infrastructure as well as the everyday details of our day-to-day existence. Taking place almost entirely outdoors from October 12-31, the Performa 2021 Biennial used the city as its backdrop, and featured new live performances by Kevin Beasley, Ericka Beckman, Sara Cwynar, Danielle Dean, Madeline Hollander, Andrés Jaque (Office for Political Innovation), Tschabalala Self, and Shikeith. For the first time in its sixteen-year history, the entire Biennial opened to the public free of charge.
Performa 2021
Madeline Hollander, Performa 2021 Biennial. Photo credit: Walter Wlodarczyk.
Tschabalala Self. Performa 2021 Biennial. Photo credit: Paula Court.
Kevin Beasley, Performa 2021 Biennial. Photo credit: Paula Court. October 13, 2021.
Danielle Dean, Performa 2021 Biennial. Photo credit: Paula Court.
Shikeith, Performa 2021 Biennial. Photo credit: Walter Wlodarczyk.
Tschabalala Self, Performa 2021 Biennial. Photo Credit: Walter Wlodarczyk.
See Also
1964
Philip Johnson commissioned Warhol to make a large-scale work for the exterior for his pavilion for the New York World’s Fair, along with other artists. Warhol’s provocative response, a multiple portrait of ‘Most Wanted Men’ was installed a few days before the opening but was deemed too inflammatory and contrary to the upbeat image of the World’s Fair and the work was taken down.