Did I Ever Have a Chance?
August 15 - September 19, 2020
Marc Selwyn Fine Art and Gordon Robichaux are pleased to present Did I Ever Have a Chance?, an exhibition organized in collaboration and on view at Marc Selwyn Fine Art from August 15 through September 19, 2020.
Included are contemporary and historical works by multigenerational artists who confront and challenge entrenched systemic inequities: racism, misogyny, homophobia, poverty, endless war, and ecological injustice. Using varied strategies rooted in the relationship between personal and social experience: activist, didactic, performative, poetic, declarative—all political—these artists agitate for visibility, agency, justice, and empowerment.
The title of the exhibition is taken from Martin Wong’s final work, which he created in his hospital bed in the days leading up to his death from complications related to AIDS. In the painting, Wong wrangles with the systems of oppression he faced throughout his life, and responds to his titular question with a transgressive image of Patty Hearst as Kali, the Hindu goddess of death and time, and a fearless fighter and mother-figure of feminine energy, creativity, and fertility. Wong’s painting, like the other works in the exhibition, is a rallying cry and affirmation of resilience, defiance, faith, resistance, and liberation.
A percentage of the proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to Fair Fight to combat voter suppression, and to Visual AIDS, which supports HIV+ artists and uses art to fight AIDS by provoking dialogue.
Helène Aylon
two sacs en route, Water colors - Green Glow, 1990
Photograph and watercolor on paper
39 x 21 inches, framed
$15,000
Helène Aylon
The Earth Ambulance, 1982
Inkjet print
Not for sale
Helène Aylon
The Book That Will Not Close
Artist edited copy of the Torah
8 x 14 x 10 inches
Not for sale
Leila Babirye
Nankulu we Kibuga (Female Mayor of the City), 2020
Wood, metal, nails, screws, found objects, wax
59 5/8 x 11 x 12 inches
SOLD
Leilah Babirye
Omulodi Omuvubuka we Kibuga (Stylish Boy of the City), 2020
Glazed ceramic, wire, found object
18 x 12 x 7 inches
$10,000
Leilah Babirye
Bakalipo (Family of Sisters), 2020
Wood, wax, nails, metal, screws, and found objects
75 x 16 1/2 x 10 inches
SOLD
Leilah Babirye
Prince Jjunju, 2020
Glazed ceramic and found object
24 x 16 x 12 inches
SOLD
Leilah Babirye
Abambowa (Royal Guard Who Protects the King), 2020
Glazed ceramic
9 x 2 1/2 x 3 inches
SOLD
Jenny Holzer
Damage is done by the tacit understanding..., 1981
Text: Living (1980-82), Text on cast bronze plate
6 x 9 1/2 inches
$50,000
Otis Houston Jr.
He Hadn't Did Nothing (with Miles Huston), 2017
Spray paint on canvas with grommets
37 x 77 3/4 inches
SOLD
Otis Houston Jr.
The Chief, 2018
Marker and tape on found framed print
28 x 20 inches
$6,000
Corita Kent
E eye love, 1968
Serigraph
22 3/4 x 22 3/4 inches
SOLD
Clifford Prince King
Just the Two of Us, 2019
Archival inkjet photo rag baryta
24 x 36 inches
$2,600
Edition of 5, +1 A.P.
Clifford Prince King
MLK, 2019
Archival inkjet print on luster
16 x 24 inches
$2,600
Edition of 5, +1 A.P.
Reverend Joyce McDonald
Our Lives Mattered (Ahmaud), 2020
Clay
11 3/4 x 7 x 2 1/2 inches
$6,500
Reverend Joyce McDonald
Our Lives Mattered (Sandra), 2020
Clay
11 x 9 inches
SOLD
Reverend Joyce McDonald
Our Lives Mattered (Eric), 2020
Clay
8 3/4 x 6 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches
$6,500
Reverend Joyce McDonald
A Moment of Despair, 2004
Clay
6 3/4 x 7 3/4 x 2 1/2 inches
SOLD
Reverend Joyce McDonald
Presenting, c. 2000s
Clay, paint, paper towel, found object
9 1/2 x 11 1/4 x 2 1/2 inches
SOLD
Reverend Joyce McDonald
Mother and Child, Loving Comfort, 2004
Air dry clay, acrylic and paper towel
7 3/4 x 5 1/2 x 4 inches
$6,500
Lorraine O'Grady
Art is...(Framing Cop), 1983/2009
C-print
16 x 20 inches
Not for sale
Lorraine O'Grady
Art is...(Woman with Girl with Stripes), 1983/2009
C-print
16 x 20 inches
Not for sale
Lorraine O'Grady
Art is...(Girl Pointing), 1983/2009
C-print
20 x 16 inches
Not for sale
Martha Rosler
Cellular, from the series "House Beautiful: Bringing the War Home, New Series", 2004
Photomontage
20 x 24 inches
$25,000
Martha Rosler
Lounging Woman, from the series "House Beautiful: Bringing the War Home, New Series", 2004
Photomontage
24 x 20 inches
SOLD
Martha Rosler
Invasion, from the series "House Beautiful: Bringing the War Home, New Series", 2008
Photomontage
30 x 53 3/8 inches
$35,000
Martha Rosler
Point and Shoot, from the series "House Beautiful: Bringing the War Home, New Series", 2008
Photomontage
30 x 40 inches
$35,000
Hannah Wilke
So Help Me Hannah, 1979
Signed offset lithograph poster
14 1/4 x 9 3/4 inches
$15,000
Hannah Wilke
Marxism and Art, 1977
Signed offset lithograph poster
11 x 9 inches
Edition of 25
$18,000
Hannah Wilke
Untitled (Single Gum Sculpture), 1984
Chewing gum in Plexiglas box
2 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 1 inches
$12,500
Hannah Wilke
Untitled (Single Gum Sculpture), c. 1984
Chewing gum in Plexiglas box
2 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 1 inches
$12,500
Hannah Wilke
Untitled (Single Gum Sculpture), 1984
Chewing gum in Plexiglas box
2 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 1 inches
$12,500
David Wojnarowicz
Untitled (Face in Dirt), 1991/2018
Pigmented ink print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag paper
16 x 20 inches
Edition of 25
$20,000
David Wojnarowicz
What is this little guy's job in the world, 1990
Gelatin silver print
15 7/8 x 19 7/8 inches
Edition of 2 A.P.
SOLD
David Wojnarowicz
Untitled (Control) from the Ant Series, 1988-89
Gelatin silver print
39 x 29 1/2 inches
Edition of 5
$85,000
Martin Wong
Sgt. Richard de Clara, NYPD, 1988
Acrylic on canvas Two panels,
16 x 20 inches, each
$275,000
Image credits: Helène Aylon: © Estate of Helène Aylon and Leslie Tonkonow Artworks + Projects, New York. Leilah Babirye: Courtesy of Gordon Robichaux, NY. Reverend Joyce McDonald: Courtesy of Gordon Robichaux, NY. Jenny Holzer: Courtesy the Artist and Spruth Magers, Los Angeles, CA. Otis Houston Jr.: Courtesy Gordon Robichaux, NY. Corita Kent: Courtesy of Andrew Kreps Gallery, New York and Corita Art Center, Los Angeles, CA. Clifford Prince King: Courtesy of the artist and Gordon Robichaux, New York. Lorraine O’Grady: © Lorraine O'Grady. Martha Rosler: Courtesy of the artist and Mitchell-Innes & Nash, New York © Martha Rosler. Hannah Wilke: Hannah Wilke Collection & Archive, Los Angeles. © Marsie, Emanuelle, Damon, and Andrew Scharlatt. Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS) New York, NY. David Wojnarowicz: Courtesy of the Estate of David Wojnarowicz and P·P·O·W, New York. Martin Wong: Courtesy of the Estate of Martin Wong and P·P·O·W, New York