Three Studies for a Crucifixion, 1962 is currently featured in the first-ever artist-curated exhibition from the Guggenheim in New York. The exhibition, Artistic Licence: Six Takes on the Guggenheim Collection celebrates the Guggenheim’s extensive collection spanning modern and contemporary works.
The exhibit has been curated by Cai Guo-Qiang, Paul Chan, Jenny Holzer, Julie Mehretu, Richard Prince, and Carrie Mae Weems. Within Julie Mehretu’s selection you’ll find Bacon’s Three Studies for a Crucifixion. Mehretu’s section titled ‘Cry Gold and See Black’ explores work created after the II World War, during a time when life and positions felt dehumanised. In particular, Mehretu was drawn to disembodied body parts, “I think there’s an undercurrent of some kind of subconscious understanding that is more about the psychological dynamics around experiencing being destabilised or violence or being dehumanized.”
The triptych has also been exhibited solo in London, Zurich, Washington D.C. and Paris, with group exhibitions in Sydney, Tokyo and Amsterdam.
Read the painting’s exhibition history and a selected bibliography here.
‘Artistic Licence: Six Takes on the Guggenheim Collection’ runs until January 12,2020 Excerpt: Julie Mehretu on the Guggenheim collection, 2019, hear the full interview here.
* Please note exhibition, venue, and ticketing terms and conditions apply. Tickets are subject to availability. All details including dates, names, featured works, opening days/hours are subject to change. If you're planning a visit, we first recommend checking with the Guggenheim for all confirmations regarding this exhibition.
