Best Art of 2024- Highlights, Exhibitions, and Artists

Joan Jonas: A Career That Shines Brightly One of the most anticipated exhibitions of the year was Joan Jonas: Good Night Good Morning at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). This exhibition was a retrospective that showcased the incredible six-decade career of Joan Jonas, one of the leading contemporary artists in performance, video, photography, and conceptual art. At 88 years old, Jonas continues to push boundaries in her artistic practice, blending media and genres to create outstanding works that reflect a lifetime of exploration and innovation.Her work is known for its deep connection to nature, the body, and storytelling. The Good Night Good Morning show, along with a concurrent exhibit at the Drawing Center in SoHo, titled Joan Jonas: Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, captured the essence of Jonas’s multifaceted approach. Her use of video and performance, often incorporating elements of mythology, ritual, and environmental themes, not only showcases her unique style but also underlines her commitment to creating art that transcends time and trends. The Metropolitan Museum of Art: A Year of Rich, Diverse Shows The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) also had a standout year with two significant exhibitions that captivated visitors and scholars alike. First up was Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300-1350, a breathtaking exploration of early Italian Renaissance art. This exhibition showcased some of the most exquisite works of the period, many bathed in gold leaf and steeped in spiritual symbolism. The medieval world that artists in Siena created offered a window into a time when …

Joan Jonas: A Career That Shines Brightly

One of the most anticipated exhibitions of the year was Joan Jonas: Good Night Good Morning at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). This exhibition was a retrospective that showcased the incredible six-decade career of Joan Jonas, one of the leading contemporary artists in performance, video, photography, and conceptual art. At 88 years old, Jonas continues to push boundaries in her artistic practice, blending media and genres to create outstanding works that reflect a lifetime of exploration and innovation.

Her work is known for its deep connection to nature, the body, and storytelling. The Good Night Good Morning show, along with a concurrent exhibit at the Drawing Center in SoHo, titled Joan Jonas: Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, captured the essence of Jonas’s multifaceted approach. Her use of video and performance, often incorporating elements of mythology, ritual, and environmental themes, not only showcases her unique style but also underlines her commitment to creating art that transcends time and trends.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art: A Year of Rich, Diverse Shows

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) also had a standout year with two significant exhibitions that captivated visitors and scholars alike. First up was Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300-1350, a breathtaking exploration of early Italian Renaissance art. This exhibition showcased some of the most exquisite works of the period, many bathed in gold leaf and steeped in spiritual symbolism. The medieval world that artists in Siena created offered a window into a time when heaven and earth felt intimately connected. If you’ve ever wanted to experience a world of ethereal beauty, this show was a must-see, and it’s on view until January 26, 2024.

Another key exhibition at The Met was The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism, which turned the spotlight on Black Modernism. This show marked an important shift in the museum’s approach, finally giving attention to the rich legacy of artists from the Harlem Renaissance and the broader African diaspora. It’s a celebration of creative brilliance that challenges long-standing historical oversights, and it’s a powerful reminder of how art shapes and is shaped by the times it emerges from.

PST ART: Where Art and Science Collide

The Getty Foundation’s PST ART series, now in its third edition, brought together 70 cultural institutions in Southern California to explore the theme of “Science and Art Collide.” The result was an eclectic mix of exhibitions that sparked curiosity and awe, with science and art seamlessly blending together. The Getty’s own exhibit, Lumen: The Art and Science of Light, mesmerized visitors with its dazzling visual experiments, proving that art has the power to illuminate even the most complex scientific concepts.

Another standout in the series was the tribute to Beatriz da Costa, a conceptual artist whose work engaged with environmental and ecological issues. Da Costa’s short but impactful career highlighted the potential of art to heal and raise awareness about the planet’s future, incorporating elements of nature and technology in her pieces. You can dive deeper into the magic of PST ART by reading our critic’s notebook on the series here.

A Museum Closes Its Doors

On a more somber note, 2024 saw the closure of the Rubin Museum of Art in Manhattan. For two decades, the Rubin Museum was a sanctuary for those seeking to engage with art from the Himalayas, particularly Tibetan art. The museum’s closing marked the end of an era, but it’s important to acknowledge that the Rubin will continue to exist as a “museum without walls,” focusing on traveling exhibits and lending its collection to other institutions. Despite this, many longtime patrons of the museum reflected on what the Rubin meant to New York’s cultural fabric, a place of calm and introspection amidst the city’s hustle.

Art’s Year of Reflection and Loss

Like any year, 2024 also saw the loss of several influential figures in the art world. From monumental artists like Faith Ringgold and Frank Stella to visionary creators like Dinh Q. Le and Patricia Johanson, the art community lost many who shaped and defined their respective fields. These individuals were not just artists but also educators, activists, and mentors who influenced generations of younger creators.

In particular, the passing of artists like Richard Serra and the conceptual artist Jackie Winsor left an indelible mark. Their contributions to Minimalism and conceptual art will continue to resonate in the art world for years to come. Our tributes to these figures and their lasting impact on art can be found in our appraisals of Faith Ringgold, Richard Serra, and Frank Stella here.

Raven Chacon: A Powerful Sonic Exploration

One of the more experimental exhibitions of the year came from Raven Chacon, a Navajo composer and artist. His show, A Worm’s Eye View From a Bird’s Beak, at the Swiss Institute in New York City, was a bold exploration of sound, politics, and indigenous identity. Chacon’s work, which incorporates compositions for wind, voice, and even gunshots, continues to push the boundaries of sound art, inviting audiences to engage with both their ears and their minds. It’s a powerful reminder of how art can serve as both a medium of resistance and a vehicle for reflection.

Lyle Ashton Harris: Identity and Love

Lyle Ashton Harris’s mid-career survey, Our First and Last Love, was another standout show this year. Harris’s autobiographical work, which touches on themes of race, gender, and self-love, offers a poignant look at the complexities of identity, especially within the context of being a Black, queer man. His use of photography, video, and ephemera to explore these themes connects deeply with audiences on both a personal and societal level.

The Brooklyn Museum: Celebrating Beauty with Critical Conversations

The Brooklyn Museum, in celebration of its 200th anniversary, reimagined its American Art galleries with the exhibition Toward Joy: New Frameworks for American Art. This exhibition tackled the beauty of art through a critical lens, addressing difficult histories such as colonialism, enslavement, and environmental degradation. Yet, it didn’t shy away from the beauty of the works themselves, acknowledging both the light and darkness in the American experience.

For those who enjoy thought-provoking yet stunning exhibitions, this rehang of the museum’s American galleries is a must-see. You can explore a critic’s take on the Brooklyn Museum’s bicentennial celebrations here.

New Old: A Shift at MoMA

Finally, a quiet revolution is taking place at MoMA with the addition of more global, contemporary, and experimental works. The second-floor galleries of MoMA, which rotate their permanent collection, have introduced fresh pieces like Montien Boonma’s House of Hope and Kay WalkingStick’s emotionally resonant Tears. These pieces, along with others like Shrine (White) by Agosto Machado, speak to themes of liberation, identity, and the pursuit of hope. It’s an exciting time to visit the museum, as it continues to evolve and surprise visitors with unexpected treasures.

For more on MoMA’s evolving collection and its commitment to contemporary voices, check out coverage here.

Final Thoughts- A Year of Artful Reflection and Discovery

2024 has been a year of introspection, celebration, and exploration in the art world. From retrospective exhibitions that celebrated the longevity and brilliance of artists like Joan Jonas, to fresh perspectives on race, gender, and identity, the art world provided a space for both reflection and forward-thinking. Whether through art that merges science with creativity or exhibitions that challenge historical narratives, this year’s art highlights show that the power of art remains ever-potent in shaping how we understand the world around us.

As we look ahead to the new year, one thing is clear: the art world will continue to evolve, inspire, and provide us with moments that make us think, feel, and see the world differently.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does Joan Jonas’s work reflect the intersection of performance, video, and environmental themes?

Joan Jonas’s work blends video, performance, photography, and installation to explore themes of nature, myth, and ritual. Her art often features elements of environmental consciousness, reflecting her ongoing engagement with the natural world. The juxtaposition of performance with technology allows her to create an immersive experience that engages viewers not just visually but emotionally and intellectually. Jonas’s work, particularly in Good Night Good Morning, creates a space where the environment becomes both a backdrop and an active participant in her storytelling.

2. What makes Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300-1350 a standout in early Renaissance art exhibitions?

The exhibition at The Met dives deeply into the medieval world, showcasing early Italian Renaissance works that are drenched in golden light and spiritual imagery. What sets this exhibition apart is its intimate portrayal of a time when painters in Siena crafted art that was not just about religious devotion, but about envisioning a heavenly world closely intertwined with earthly existence. The works on display, luminous with gold leaf and iconography, capture the Renaissance’s spiritual and artistic awakening in a way that’s rarely highlighted in such detail.

3. How does the PST ART series challenge traditional boundaries between art and science?

The PST ART series, especially with exhibitions like Lumen: The Art and Science of Light, pushes the boundaries by exploring art’s ability to explain and express scientific concepts. Rather than simply displaying art created with scientific tools or subjects, these exhibitions focus on the intersections where art can enhance our understanding of light, sound, and even ecology. The show taps into the idea that art is not only a tool for aesthetic experience but also a medium for exploring and communicating scientific phenomena, sparking dialogue between both fields in a way that’s both accessible and visually striking.

4. What was the impact of the Rubin Museum’s closure on the representation of Himalayan art in New York?

The closure of the Rubin Museum leaves a significant gap in the representation of Himalayan and Tibetan art in New York City. The Rubin Museum was a rare institution dedicated to showcasing this specific cultural and artistic heritage. As it transitions to becoming a "museum without walls," its influence on educating the public about the richness and diversity of Himalayan art will likely shift to a more transient presence through traveling exhibitions. This change means that access to such specialized art forms will be more dispersed and may lack the consistency and depth that the Rubin Museum’s permanent space offered.

5. How does Raven Chacon’s work expand the boundaries of sound art?

Raven Chacon’s work, particularly seen in A Worm’s Eye View From a Bird’s Beak, expands the boundaries of sound art by incorporating unconventional elements such as gunshots, wind, and voice in his compositions. This unique blend of auditory experiences challenges traditional notions of music and sound art, creating immersive environments that provoke deep reflection on cultural, political, and environmental issues. Chacon’s art isn’t just heard, it’s felt and experienced, inviting audiences to engage on a sensory level that goes beyond just listening to music, making it a powerful tool for activism and awareness.

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The Best Art of 2024: A Year of Uplifting and Thought-Provoking Exhibitions

Joan Jonas: A Career That Shines Brightly

The Metropolitan Museum of Art: A Year of Rich, Diverse Shows

PST ART: Where Art and Science Collide

A Museum Closes Its Doors

Art’s Year of Reflection and Loss

Raven Chacon: A Powerful Sonic Exploration

Lyle Ashton Harris: Identity and Love

The Brooklyn Museum: Celebrating Beauty with Critical Conversations

New Old: A Shift at MoMA

Final Thoughts- A Year of Artful Reflection and Discovery

Frequently Asked Questions

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