Kevin Beasley is a contemporary American artist whose work is characterized by an innovative use of materials and an exploration of the intersections between personal and political histories. Beasley's practice involves the transformation of everyday objects and industrial materials into complex sculptural installations and sound works that engage with the social and cultural contexts of their production. His work often incorporates elements of performance and site-specificity, creating immersive environments that challenge viewers to consider the complex histories and power dynamics embedded within the objects and materials that surround us. Beasley's work has been exhibited widely in the United States and internationally, including at the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Guggenheim Museum in New York, as well as the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including a grant from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts and a residency at the Studio Museum in Harlem. One of Beasley's most significant works is Untitled (hollow), a large-scale installation that was first exhibited at the Whitney Biennial in 2019. The work consists of a series of suspended sculptures made from resin, foam, and other materials, which emit a haunting sound when touched or activated by viewers. The work is a meditation on the violence and trauma embedded within the history of American slavery, and the ways in which that history continues to shape contemporary society. Overall, Kevin Beasley is an artist whose work challenges viewers to engage with the complex histories and power dynamics embedded within the materials and objects that surround us. Through his innovative use of materials and his engagement with social and cultural contexts, Beasley creates immersive environments that invite viewers to consider the ways in which our shared histories continue to shape our present and future.
Kevin Beasley, contemporary art, materials, sculpture, sound, performance, site-specificity, social and cultural contexts, Whitney Biennial, American slavery
Kevin Beasley is an American artist, who is renowned for his visual art that covers a diverse range of mediums. Born in 1985, Beasley has already achieved a lot of success throughout his career, with works that explore the connections between personal and political histories. His practice often incorporates industrial materials and reclaimed objects, which he uses to interrogate the power dynamics of racial, gender, and class identities. He has had numerous solo exhibitions, including one at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. Some of his important works include 'In My Mind I See a Line', 'Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around', and 'Within a Piece of Dead Wood, There Lies the Mystery of Life'.
Art, sculpture, installation, identity, power, race, gender.
— Mei Wang
CITATION : "Mei Wang. 'Kevin Beasley.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=207738 (Accessed on July 16, 2025)"
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