THIS IS AMERICA brings together 36 artists, some born in the United States, some born abroad, who have made the United States their adopted home. The exhibition, which features works primarily from 2020 and 2021, reflects a global sense of uncertainty and offers a kaleidoscopic view of a country rife with injustice and inequality. The artworks in THIS IS AMERICA represent a cross-section of diverse experiences and engage with a range of issues from housing hardship and the opioid epidemic to domestic violence and police brutality.

No other country is more shrouded in myths. America—land of boundless possibilities. From rags to riches. Where a real estate tycoon can become president of a society in which the chasm between poor and rich grows ever wider. Liberals and conservatives entrench themselves in their respective camps, and conflicts that appear to be intractable pit the generations against one another. The chaos and upheavals of the past few years have been fertile ground for artistic ventures that THIS IS AMERICA brings into focus.

The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog published by DISTANZ, Berlin, featuring more than thirty statements by the participating artists, as well as thematic essays by Kathy Battista and New York Times bestselling author Roxane Gay.

Participating artists

Farley Aguilar, Daniel Arsham, Cristina BanBan, Alex Becerra, Sharif Bey, Coady Brown, Zoe Buckman, Chloe Chiasson, Will Cotton, Timothy Curtis, Christina Forrer, Genevieve Gaignard. Mark Thomas Gibson, Alfonso Gonzalez Jr, Jameson Green, Caleb Hahne, Asif Hoque, Jarrett Key, David Leggett, Tony Marsh, Shona McAndrew, Louis Osmosis, Alina Perez, Cleon Peterson, Pat Phillips, Patrick Quarm. Kelly Reemtsen, Brie Ruais, Ilana Savdie, Mira Schor, Sojourner Truth Parsons, Raelis Vasquez, Charles Edward Williams, Peter Williams, Cosmo Whyte, Hiejin Yoo.

(on view at Kunstraum Potsdam August 8-September 5, 2021)

Kunstraum Potsdam
Schiffbauergasse 4D, 14467 Potsdam