Case Studies 1: Damien Davis – OLD CURRENCIES
Kasser Theater Cases
September 1 – December 9, 2022
Case Studies is a new series of exhibitions in the Alexander Kasser Theater Cases initiated by Director Megan C. Austin and Curator Jesse Bandler Firestone.
Case Studies 1: Damien Davis – OLD CURRENCIES brings together new and recent works by Damien Davis, on loan from Uprise Art, that explore Blackness through symbols, shapes, colors, and digital technology.
Cowrie shells, tobacco leaves, and anatomical shapes appear throughout the exhibition to explore themes of currency, sex, and cultural traditions that connect a wide range of experiences within the African diaspora. In the Blackamoors print series, made exclusively using Adobe Illustrator’s “Ancient” preset color palette, Davis investigates how classifications and nomenclature within digital softwares relate to perceptions of identity and culture.
Among the highlights of the exhibition are:
- New sculptural works on view for the first time.
- Blackamoors, 2022, depicts a range of shapes, colors, and forms in various configurations that speak to nuance relationships within and perceptions of Blackness.
Click on an image below to enlarge photo.
Opening Reception
- Register on Eventbrite
- Thursday, September 22, 4 – 7 p.m.
- Celebrate the opening of Case Studies 1: Damien Davis – OLD CURRENCIES at the Kasser Theater and Nothing Under Heaven by Joseph Liatela at the George Segal Gallery.
of blackness by seeking to unpack the visual language of various cultures and question how these
societies code/decode representations of race through design and digital modes of production.
Davis’ recent solo presentations include MoMA PopRally Presents Arty Gras, The Museum of
Modern Art, New York, NY (2017) and OBJECT / AFFECTION, Black Ball Projects, Brooklyn,
NY (2016). Davis holds a BFA in Studio Art and an MA in Visual Arts Administration from New
York University. He is currently a participant in Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s Workspace
program.s