Marcos Mena Cruz on October 9, 2024
Peggy is proud to present "Pushing Boundaries," an online art auction featuring Sandra Blow, Salim Al Kadi, Brian Aris, and Apollonia Müller. This exhibition showcases a collection of photography (and photography-adjacent) that challenges and expands the boundaries of existing mediums.
This auction brings together emerging and renowned artists, all part of the MoMA permanent collection, whose works represent different facets of innovation within the art world. Each piece demonstrates how artists can push the envelope of what we consider possible through their unique vision.
The works in "Pushing Boundaries" have been carefully curated from a global perspective, offering a glimpse into the diverse landscape of contemporary art and its future directions. From Sandra Blow's documentation of Mexico's underground queer scene to Brian Aris's iconic photography spanning war zones and celebrity culture, this collection redefines what deserves to be documented, idealized, and recognized in art.
Curatorial Perspective
The curation of "Pushing Boundaries" reflects a deliberate effort to showcase the multifaceted nature of contemporary art. By bringing together works across various mediums - from Brian Aris's iconic photography to Salim Al Kadi's architectural interventions - the auction selection highlights how innovation transcends traditional artistic boundaries. This diversity is mirrored in the global representation of the artists, with voices from the UK, Mexico, and Lebanon offering a rich, international dialogue on the future of art.
The juxtaposition of established and emerging artists adds another layer of depth to the exhibition. Brian Aris, with his decades-long career capturing celebrities and global events, stands alongside Sandra Blow, an emerging talent whose work brings visibility to Mexico's underground queer scene. This contrast not only spans generations but also shifts the focus from traditionally idolized subjects to marginalized communities, bringing a vital Global South perspective to the forefront of the art world.
The inclusion of all featured artists in the MoMA permanent collection underscores their significant contributions to contemporary art. This institutional recognition serves as a testament to their innovative approaches and the lasting impact of their work, while also hinting at the potential for future appreciation both critically and in market value.
Furthermore, the exhibition celebrates cross-disciplinary approaches, exemplified by Salim Al Kadi's work. By fusing architecture with social commentary through projects like embroidering keffiyeh onto Kevlar or creating 3D models of post-explosion Beirut, Al Kadi demonstrates how the intersection of different fields can yield powerful artistic statements. This blending of disciplines - architecture with textiles, digital modeling with cultural preservation - reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of contemporary art practices.
Featured Artists
Brian Aris
Brian Aris, renowned for his iconic photography, captures the zeitgeist of the late 20th century, moving from the harrowing scenes of war to the vibrant energy of music, fashion, and celebrity culture. His photography work was featured on the exhibition “Making Music Modern: Design for Ear and Eye” in 2014 to 2016 thanks to a photo of his that featured on an album cover for The Who, Face Dances 1981. From the frontlines of global conflict to the glamor of the British royal family, Aris navigates extremes, pushing the boundaries of traditional photojournalism to explore the intersections of fame, power, and public memory. His work epitomizes the ability of the camera to transition from a tool of documentary truth to an instrument of cultural immortality.
Sandra Blow
Sandra Blow reimagines the possibilities of portraiture, documenting the underground queer scene of Mexico City with striking sensitivity and authenticity. A recent acquisition of the MoMA, her work will be featured in New Photography, an upcoming exhibition in 2025 celebrating the 40th anniversary of this exhibition. Her work is a vivid, immersive journey into the world of nightlife, fashion, and identity, blending digital and analog formats to challenge the conventional boundaries of photography. Through her lens, Blow captures fleeting, intimate moments that give voice to marginalized communities, pushing the aesthetic and emotional limits of visual storytelling in contemporary art.
Salim Al Kadi
Salim Al Kadi, whose background as both architect and artist informs his practice, breaks down the distinctions between art and social activism. From embroidering the keffiyeh onto Kevlar which was featured on 2017 exhibition “Is Fashion Modern”, to creating open-source 3D models of Beirut in the wake of the 2020 explosion, Al Kadi fuses architecture with critical commentary on cultural heritage and resilience. The work he presents for this auction innovates on the definition of painting using mediums like Cyanotype that are traditionally reserved for photography.
Apollonia Müller
Apollonia Müller, an acclaimed contemporary photographer, is renowned for her unique approach to urban landscapes. Shooting from high vantage points and employing aerial perspective, she creates a sense of detachment in her images, inviting viewers to experience familiar scenes as strangers. This vision is exemplified in her series "Angels in Fall," where Los Angeles cityscapes become ethereal compositions with light palettes and emphasized depth. Apollonia's innovative techniques have earned her a place in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), NY, Whitney Museum, NY, LACMA Los Angeles, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles among others which you can find in her bio on her Peggy profile.
Auction Details
This art auction will run on Peggy online from October 11th to the 21st. While the artists have exhibited at MoMA, the auction is independent of MoMA and not a partnership with the museum. For more information on this auction, please pre-register here.
While the artists have exhibited at MoMA, the auction is independent of MoMA and not a partnership with the museum.
