Human Nature: Contemporary Art from the Collection

BCAM, Level 2

March 13, 2011–July 4, 2011

Image: Larry Bell, Cube, 1966, Vacuum coated glass, 12 1/8 x 12 1/8 x 12 1/8 in.

Human Nature: Contemporary Art from the Collection presents approximately 75 works of art in diverse media, including painting, drawing, photography, video, and audio from the museum's permanent collection of contemporary art. Borrowing its title from a work by artist Bruce Nauman, Human Nature surveys work by artists who have made defining contributions to the recent art landscape, from 1968 to the present. Many of the works are on view for the first time since their acquisition, including pieces by Haegue Yang, Leslie Hewitt, Rachel Harrison, Glenn Ligon, Paul Pfeiffer, and Zhang Huan. The exhibition also includes works by Larry Bell, Sol Lewitt, Donald Judd, Joseph Kosuth, Bruce Nauman, Vito Acconci, George Herms, Betye Saar, Nam June Paik, Gerhard Richter, Mark Bradford, and others.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the museum's Modern and Contemporary Art Council (MCAC) has been instrumental in acquiring many works that will be on view in this exhibition. Founded in 1961, the MCAC is the longest-running support group for contemporary art at any museum in the country. LACMA's contemporary art holdings reflect the critical role the council's patronage plays as a cornerstone of collection development.

Language is Not Transparent

Mel Bochner

1970

Ludwig II of Bavaria

Elizabeth Peyton

1994

Diary of a Victorian Dandy: 21.00 Hours, from the Diary of a Victorian Dandy series

Yinka Shonibare

1998

The Fifth Shade

Rachel Harrison

2004

Installing Nauman

March 10, 2011

During the past few weeks the second floor of BCAM has been undergoing the installation of the exhibition Human Nature: Contemporary Art from the Collection, opening this Sunday (and on view now for members). The exhibition takes its name from Bruce Nauman’s neon art piece Human Nature/Life Death/Know Doesn’t Know, which is included in the show. A major effort on the part of our conservators, art installers and electrician has made it possible to put this large neon puzzle back on view after a hiatus of about ten years...

Catch it While You Still Can: Human Nature

February 21, 2011

A little less than two weeks remain to see Human Nature, Contemporary Art from the Collection, on view in BCAM through July 4th. The show is a rich presentation of contemporary work since 1968. We had the chance to talk with two of the artists in the show, Charles Gaines and Carlee Fernandez. Their work appears in the first gallery, the same one that features the video piece Walk with Contrapposto by Bruce Nauman (1968) and S.O.S Starification Object Series (Guns) by Hannah Wilke (1974)...

Art

Human Nature: Contemporary Art from the Collection

Human Nature

Installing Nauman

Catch it While You Still Can: Human Nature

Video