David Hammons

Inside David Hammons’ 2019 Los Angeles exhibition in this singular artist’s book, uncovering the conception, development and transformation of the unconventional project

In 2019, the artist David Hammons staged a highly unconventional—yet very characteristic—exhibition at Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles, described by frieze as “a parody of pious, politically activist art.” With no checklist, catalogue or wall labels and only a limited press release composed of a dedication and a drawing, this richly illustrated publication represents the author’s first comment on the landmark exhibition. It traces the project’s conception, development and transformation, featuring an essay by curator and activist Linda Goode Bryant and a roundtable discussion with the team behind the exhibition. More than an exhibition catalogue, this artist’s book is a window onto Hammons’ œuvre as a whole, and represents an indispensable resource on an icon of contemporary American art.