Kevin Beasley facts for kids

Kevin Beasley (born in 1985 in Lynchburg, Virginia) is an American artist. He creates amazing art using sculptures, live performances, and sound. He lives and works in New York City. Kevin Beasley's art has been shown in big exhibitions. These include the Whitney Museum of American Art's Biennial in 2014. He was also part of the Greater New York exhibition at MoMA PS1 in 2015.

Who is Kevin Beasley?

Kevin Beasley was born in Lynchburg, Virginia. He studied art at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. He earned his first art degree there in 2007. Later, he got a master's degree from Yale in 2012.

What Kind of Art Does He Make?

Kevin Beasley is famous for his sculptures. He often uses everyday objects and materials. He especially likes to use old clothes. He also uses materials like resin and foam. These materials harden over time.

Sculptures with a Personal Touch

As these materials harden, Beasley works them with his own body. This process leaves marks of his touch. It makes the sculptures feel very personal. They often have a soft, "fleshy" look. Many of his sculptures also have hidden audio equipment. This allows them to be part of sound art shows or performances.

Important Art Shows

Kevin Beasley's art has been shown in many important places.

Whitney Biennial 2014

In 2014, Beasley was part of the Whitney Museum of American Art's Biennial. This is a big art show that happens every two years. For this show, he made a special art piece. It was designed just for that space. He used sculptures with microphones hidden inside them. These microphones picked up sounds from the museum. They captured the sounds of visitors and the building. His sculptures for this show included sneakers and cast plastics. These are materials he often uses in his art.

Storylines at the Guggenheim

In 2015, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum showed two of Beasley's works. These were called Strange Fruit: Part I and Strange Fruit: Part II. These artworks were made from shoes and other found objects. They also had microphones and speakers. They would play back the sounds of the museum to visitors. The name "Strange Fruit" comes from a famous protest song. Using this name and Air Jordan shoes in his art makes people think. It makes them think about the people who visit the museum. It also makes them think about Black people throughout history. These artworks are now part of the Guggenheim Museum's collection.

"A View of a Landscape" Solo Show

Kevin Beasley had his first solo show at a New York museum. It was called "A view of a landscape." This show was at the Whitney Museum of American Art. It ran from December 2018 to March 2019. The show featured a large art setup. It included a cotton gin motor from Maplesville, Alabama. This part of the artwork explored the history of his family's land. His family's land is in the American South. The exhibit used sights and sounds from the cotton gin. This created a powerful experience for visitors.

Live Performances

Beasley is also well-known for his live performances. In these shows, he often uses his sculptures to create sounds.

Playing His Sculptures

During a performance at the 2014 Whitney Biennial, Beasley "played" his sculptures. He touched and moved them around the gallery. Microphones inside the sculptures picked up the sounds. These sounds were made by his body and the materials. The sounds were then made louder for the audience.

Sound Art Without Sculptures

Sometimes, Beasley performs sound art without sculptures. In 2012, he performed I Want My Spot Back. This was at the Museum of Modern Art. This piece used only a cappella (voice-only) clips. These were from rappers from the 1990s who had passed away. Beasley mixed and amplified these sounds live for the audience.

Performances with the Cotton Gin

During his "A view of a landscape" show at the Whitney Museum of American Art, Beasley had live performances. He worked with other artists like Taja Cheek, Eli Keszler, and Jlin. The cotton gin motor became an instrument in these performances. Artists could change its sounds. They turned them into live music.

The Sound of Morning

For Performa 21, Beasley created The Sound of Morning in 2021. He used sculptures made from everyday items. He also used performers and microphones. These microphones made small noises much louder. In this work, Beasley combined sculpture, sound, performance, and the specific location.

Where to Find His Art

Kevin Beasley's art is part of many museum collections. This means his artworks are owned by these museums.

• Pérez Art Museum Miami
• The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
• The Museum of Modern Art
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
• Tate Modern
• Dallas Museum of Art
• Albright-Knox Art Gallery