Hirshhorn Museum Gala Will Honor Five Washington Artists, Including Sam Gilliam and Jefferson Pinder

From left, Jefferson Pinder and Sam Gilliam

THE HIRSHHORN MUSUEM and Sculpture Garden is honoring contemporary artists who live and work in Washington, D.C., including Sam Gilliam and Jefferson Pinder. After hosting two galas in New York, the Smithsonian museum is bringing its fundraising celebration home. In addition to Gilliam and Pinder, Linn Meyers, Maggie Michael, and Dan Steinhilber are being recognized at its spring gala. The event is May 6 at the Hirshhorn.

“Washington, D.C. is a vibrant creative hub at the intersection of national and international culture, and the Hirshhorn’s unrivaled setting informs all that we do,” said Melissa Chiu, director of the Hirshhorn. “These artists are instrumental in the transformation of contemporary expression, and they also share our deep commitment to Washington’s diverse communities.”

“These artists are instrumental in the transformation of contemporary expression, and they also share our deep commitment to Washington’s diverse communities.” — Melissa Chiu, Director of the Hirshhorn

Associated with Washington’s Color School, a five-panel work by Gilliam is installed in the lobby of the nearby National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). Recognized for his pioneering beveled edge and drape paintings, Gilliam’s practice has garnered renewed critical attention over the past several years. He is among several African American artists invited to participate in the international exhibition at the 2017 Venice Biennale.

A multidisciplinary artist, Pinder’s artist statement says in part, “I create performances, video work, and objects that challenge viewers to think critically about our highly polarized society. I explore the tangle of representations, visual tropes, and myths—referencing historical events and invoking cultural symbolism.” Last year, Pinder was a United States Artists fellow. Earlier this month, he presented a video narrative, “Afro-Cosmonaut/Alien (White Noise)” at the Moving Image New York art fair. Pinder is also represented at NMAAHC, where his “Mothership (Capsule)” (2009), composed of wood from President Obama’s inaugural platform, is on view in the visual art galleries.

The Hirshhorn has raised $3 million since 2015. Gala funds support the museum’s exhibition, public programming, and community initiatives. The museum previously announced it will alternate its semi-annual events between the two cities, with the spring gala held in Washington and a fall event in New York. CT

TOP IMAGES: From left, Courtesy United States Artists; Photo by Stephen Frietch, Courtesy David Kordansky Gallery