Conrad Bakker

Conrad Bakker
Objects & Economies [Untitled Projects 1997–2007]
Des Moines Art Center Downtown
December 14, 2007 – March 28, 2008

This ten-year survey exhibition features Conrad Bakker’s ongoing series of Untitled Projects—thematically organized bodies of work that explore objects and their economies through a variety of social, institutional, and consumer contexts utilizing humor, situational awareness, formal play, and interventionist strategies. Interested in operating outside of traditional art-world spaces, Bakker often distributes his badly carved and clumsily painted facsimiles of everyday objects and known consumer products through alternative markets—in auctions on eBay, for barter on craigslist, dropped onto store shelves, and grouped into his own functional mail-order catalog. Whether snatched, exchanged, or purchased (often times at the real object’s going rate), the unwieldy trafficking of these faux objects through a real economy is a key component of these projects.

Conrad Bakker: Objects & Economies [Untitled Projects 1997–2007] is accompanied by an exhibition catalogue with an introduction by Patricia Hickson, Art Center curator; an essay by Kelly Baum, Locks Curatorial Fellow for Contemporary Art at the Princeton University Art Museum; and texts by artist Conrad Bakker. The exhibition is organized by Patricia Hickson.

Related Programs:

Conversations on Art: Conrad Bakker
Thursday, February 28, 6:30 pm
Levitt Auditorium
FREE admission

Contemporary art practices often push the boundaries of what can be considered art and sometimes it can be challenging to appreciate. Those wanting to broaden their understanding of current art trends and their connections to contemporary culture are encouraged to join us for Conrad Bakker’s lecture.

Extended hours: Open second Saturdays 11 am – 4 pm

• January 12
• February 9
• March 8

Guided Tours
We are pleased to offer guided tours of Sign Language. Please schedule at least three weeks in advance. Contact Jennifer Cooley at 515.271.0328 or jcooley@desmoinesartcenter.org.

All tours Downtown are FREE.

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