October 5, 2019–March 22, 2020
Starting October 5, Remai Modern is thrilled to present the largest showing of international modern and contemporary art ever in Saskatchewan, spanning more than 12,000 square feet. The Sonnabend Collection at Remai Modern features more than 100 pieces by 68 artists, including iconic works by Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons and Candida Höfer, among many others.
This will be the Collection’s first exposure in Canada, and its most comprehensive presentation to date in North America, introducing audiences to artists of great historical impact and enduring influence. Developed through the vision of influential art dealer Ileana Sonnabend, her husband Michael Sonnabend, and their adopted son Antonio Homem, the collection is among the most significant private holdings of modern and contemporary art in the world.
With a deep, unwavering commitment, the Sonnabends granted artists the opportunity to push boundaries, defy expectations and exhibit work that was difficult to sell. As a museum, Remai Modern extends this same trust to artists, allowing them to lead people into unfamiliar and challenging territories.
Through their galleries in Paris and New York, the Sonnabends established an international presence and fostered creative exchanges and new audiences for American artists in Europe and vice versa. Often, they championed artists early in their careers. They anticipated and influenced developments in art including Pop, Minimalism, Conceptualism, Nouveau Realism, Arte Povera, Neo-Expressionism, Neo-Geo, Photo Conceptualism and beyond.
Showcasing the Sonnabend Collection at Remai Modern provides an extraordinary educational opportunity for art lovers of all ages, from schoolchildren to seasoned aficionados. An extensive live program will deliver a wide range of activities to inspire visitors and deepen their connection to the works on view.
A catalogue, designed by Post Projects, will accompany the exhibition. In it, Homem takes the reader on a personal guided tour of Remai Modern’s exhibition, recalling stories about artists and artworks in the collection, artistic and literary inspirations and important historical context. As the close collaborator of Ileana, Homem shares a lifetime of insight about their journey, through movements and defining moments, with warmth and passion.
The catalogue includes reproductions of works by Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Jeff Koons, Claes Oldenburg, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Hilla and Bernd Becher, John Baldessari, Vito Acconci, Bruce Nauman and other key figures. It provides an unparalleled opportunity to experience important works of art with insight from a key stakeholder. Mirroring the exhibition, it is assembled to reveal the connections, relations and perpetual innovations that continue to shape the art of today.
The Sonnabend Collectionat Remai Modern will open on October 5, 2019 and run until March 22, 2020. The exhibition is curated by Homem and organized in partnership with the Sonnabend Collection Foundation.
