WATER MILL, NY.- The Watermill Center, an interdisciplinary laboratory for the arts and humanities located in Water Mill, NY, presents two solo exhibitions by artists Christopher Knowles (b. 1959, New York) and Robert Nava (b.1985, Chicago) across their gallery spaces on July 30, coinciding with STAND, The Center’s 30th anniversary Summer Benefit.
Visual artist Christopher Knowles, a returning alumni artist whose work is featured in The Watermill Center collection and has a long-standing relationship with the institution dating back to the 70s, first came to The Watermill Center in 1992 for the founding International Summer Program. Now, The Center presents a comprehensive exhibition of Knowles’ work throughout the South Wing of the main building, covering all periods of his artistic career, including his drawings, typings, paintings, sculpture, sound work, and performance. The exhibition is the result of a two-year examination of Knowles’ archive, revealing many associations, surprises, new bodies of works, and approaches to subject matter never presented to the public – providing a unique and highly comprehensive insight into Knowles’ artistic oeuvre. Highlights include large bodies of work that have never been exhibited publicly including paintings, typings and sound works. Christopher Knowles is represented by Bridget Donahue in New York. The exhibition will be on view through the year.
Contemporary drawing and animations by Inga Maren Otto Fellow Robert Nava will occupy The Center’s Residence Gallery inviting all visitors to engage with the works within the artist's studio. The exhibition will include new works on paper made during his residency, which will be complemented by additional recent works. After receiving his MFA at Yale University in 2011, Nava moved to New York City where he developed his own distinct style and visual lexicon. His work embodies a new kind of mythmaking, drawing from mythology, philosophy, religion, and ancient history as well as video games, monsters, and the animal kingdom. This exhibition will be on view through September.
Major coinciding summer programs include an exhibition partnership with 2022 Inga Maren Otto Fellow Hank Willis Thomas & For Freedoms at Parrish Art Museum (opening July 24, 2022) and The Annual Watermill Center Summer Benefit (July 30, 2022).
