ECHO: Sampling Visual Culture

Friday, June 25, 2010–Sunday, October 10, 2010

1905 Building

Artist Marcel Duchamp believed that "the viewer was a co-partner in the creative process" and utilized irony and humor in his works to give the viewer an access point. ECHO: Sampling Visual Culture explored a selection of contemporary artists from the museum's collection who incorporate humor and appropriation into their artmaking. "Appropriation" refers to the artistic tradition of "adopting, borrowing, recycling, or sampling aspects of visual culture" such as ideas, advertising symbols, media, forms, or styles taken from other cultures, time-periods, or artists.

This exhibition challenged the neutral viewer experience by presenting works with a humorous, accessible approach to artmaking. It also provided a relevant commentary on how we collectively process the imagery that surrounds us on a daily basis. In addition to works by artists such as Louis Cameron, Sherrie Levine, Tom Sachs, Robert Therrien, Vik Muniz, and Kara Walker, the exhibition included more historical works by artists such as Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol, who were among one of the first generations of artists to draw upon mass culture and popular media such as advertising, comic books, and newspapers.

This exhibition was organized by Associate Curator Holly E. Hughes, with Curatorial Intern Josh Olivieri.