SCAD deFINE ART 2021

The Savannah College of Art and Design presents the 12th edition of SCAD deFINE ART, the university’s annual program of talks, tours, and exhibitions featuring work by contemporary art’s most vital voices. This year’s dynamic online programming, presented February 23–25, includes a keynote lecture by renowned New York-based conceptual artist and 2021 SCAD deFINE ART honoree Sanford Biggers, a Q&A with prominent Brooklyn-based artist Marcel Dzama, and a conversation on Dzama’s work with famed comedian Amy Sedaris, among other inspiring talks, gallery tours, and studio visits.

The virtual program complements new exhibitions on view at the SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah and SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta, featuring work by Biggers, Dzama, and other globally recognized artists including Christto & Andrew, Kate Cooper, Helen Frankenthaler, Emily Furr, Carlos Garaicoa, the Haas Brothers, Paulina Olowska, Brandon Sadler, Rose B. Simpson, and Albert Watson. These artists’ evocative works present new ideas or different ways of being in the world and encourage greater reflection on the narratives we inherit, the identities we create, and the roles we are expected to play. While many of the artists challenge the status quo, their unique perspectives on art and culture ultimately offer the viewer a sense of hope for the future.

“SCAD deFINE ART 2021 marks another first in the event’s 12-year history—our inaugural virtual edition,” said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. “In a season of reimagination, SCAD’s renowned fine arts program showcases the shifting explorations and revelations of self. From Sanford Biggers’ ‘future ethnographies’ to Kate Cooper’s representations of the feminine ‘ideal,’ SCAD deFINE ART constructs—and deconstructs—identity through works by internationally celebrated contemporary artists. This year, your home and SCAD museums become one. Take a look!”

Biggers (b. 1970, Los Angeles) will deliver the keynote lecture Wednesday, February 24, at 6pm ET, and participate in programming throughout the three-day event. Biggers’ solo exhibition Contra/Diction at the SCAD Museum of Art’s Walter O. Evans Center for African American Studies functions as a selective survey, bringing together an array of works that spans the past 20 years of his prolific practice. Beyond its compelling visual potency, Biggers’ work is a visceral experience and a clarion call to combat racial injustices that threaten the lives of Black Americans. He communicates feeling rather than a fidelity to history, combining a trove of narratives to form a vision of human experience. “I have a firm belief that art has the power to reach a wide audience and can stimulate change that reflects the current desires of people and culture,” said Biggers. “I’ve dedicated my life, as an artist and an educator, to remind people that art can be both an aesthetic and political act that not only empowers and inspires people but has the ability to operate outside of the system. It is my honor to receive this recognition and be able to connect with young artists in hopes to inspire the power to create and use art as a tool to move culture forward as well as a platform for deeper dialogue.”

“Through SCAD deFINE ART and other year-round public programming, SCAD museums enlighten minds and elevate dialogue,” said Kari Herrin, vice president for brand experience and head of exhibitions. “This year’s programming and corresponding exhibitions explore art and design practices including painting, architecture, photography, fibers, motion media, and film, all of which directly relate to our university’s top-ranked degree programs. We are proud to offer this dynamic event, allowing audiences in our SCAD communities and around the world exclusive access to these creative leaders.”

For more information, visit scad.edu.