Worldwide Distribution

by Matt Hutaff

If you haven’t had the experience of seeing art professor Ken Gonzales-Day’s work in the classroom, that’s fine – you can now view it at the Smithsonian, the Getty, and LACMA as well.

Some of his seminal work has been purchased or acquired by a number of institutions around the world, including the abovementioned museums, the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris, France, and the Los Angeles METRO Orange Line Extension. Acquisitions include commissioned art as well as selections from two of Gonzales-Day’s series, “Searching for California’s Hang Trees” and “Profiled.” The former documents Gonzales-Day’s six-year photographic journey into the history of lynching in California, while the latter deconstructs the changing meaning of the human form and its representation.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled with the different selections made by these institutions,” says Gonzales-Day. “They reflect on the unique strengths of each of their collections.”

If you’d like to see Gonzales-Day’s work up close, “Untitled (Antico Bust of a Young Man and Francis Harwood, Bust of a Man, The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles),” appears at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art now through September 23. Another of his photographs will be included in “Messerschmidt and Modernity” at the Getty Museum July 24 through October 14, and the Canoga Metro Station has a unique installation which opens to the public June 30 with free rides all day. Gonzales-Day’s work is also included in “Figure  Form in Contemporary Photography,” which runs from July 21 through October 14 at LACMA.

Of course, if you’re feeling adventurous (or aren’t living in California), the pieces in the Smithsonian and across the pond in Paris make for a moving experience, too.

“These museum acquisitions are important personal markers that ensure the works will remain available to the public for many years to come,” he adds. “Each symbolizes a recognition of the project’s various contributions to the field and provide resources for further exploration and production.”

For more information about Ken Gonzales-Day, visit his website.

 

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