Ulises

Ken Lum’s exhibition “Klump!”—the second installment of Ulises’s year-long, three-part artists’ multiples series “Commodities”—opens on August 30, 2024, at Studio 105 . Join us for the opening reception from 6 – 9pm! RSVP at link in bio

“This installation merges and contrasts two opposing artistic impulses. The white exhibition walls symbolize an endpoint in art—an uninflected surface that rejects reference and representation, aiming for a pure aesthetic experience. Small portraits of individuals punctuate the walls like musical notes, adding rhythm to the space.”

The work is part of a series featuring full-figure photographic portraits accompanied by text in the form of questions, such as, “How long has he been here?” or “Is she happy?” “Klump!” showcases recent photos Lum has taken with his phone while walking around Philadelphia and New York, updating his 1985 “World Portrait Series.”

Additionally, has reimagined his iconic “Melly Shum Hates Her Job” billboard as a mug, referencing 9-to-5 office culture and inviting reflection on broader themes of labor, capitalism, and the feeling of being trapped in one’s life, as one sips.

Ken Lum is a Philadephia-based artist exploring themes of identity, immigration, language, and spatial politics through diverse media including painting, sculpture, performance, photography, and writing. His work has been widely exhibited internationally since the 1970s, including at the Whitney Biennial, the Venice Biennale, and the Hirshhorn Museum, with pieces in numerous public collections worldwide.

Image: Courtesy of the artist

Another reminder that the BIG SUMMER BOOK SALE is this Sunday, June 25, 11AM - 5PM! Here is some info about our final group of vendors:)🐣

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Founded in 1997 at 1026 Arch Street in Philadelphia's Chinatown, Space 1026 is headquarters for a network of artists who want to do it their own way, together. Their new home at 844 North Broad Street hosts a gallery for exhibitions and performances, member studios, print facilities, a woodshop, and a garden.

Space 1026 is constantly evolving. Member artists are united in their shared enthusiasm for creating art and taking giant leaps of faith. With 20 current members and a long list of alumni, the collective is defined by its member artists.

Member will be curating a special selection of 1026 works just for the SALE 😎

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Winner of the ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming and Philadelphia magazine’s “Best of Philly” award, Ars Nova Workshop (ANW) is an internationally recognized jazz, experimental, and new classical music presenter. As Philadelphia’s premier presenter of improvisational music, we are the pivot point between this city and the wide world of jazz and improvisation. We assure Philadelphia audiences a sustained relationship with the most creative work being done in music, and we also ensure that Philadelphia artists are part of that exciting global conversation.

Milford Graves: A Mind- Body Deal:
Milford Graves was a revelatory force in music beginning in the mid-1960s, liberating the drummer from the role of time-keeper to instrumental improviser. A pivotal figure in the free jazz movement, he created groundbreaking work with Albert Ayler, the New York Art Quartet, Min Tanaka, and John Zorn, and led the way in artistic self-production. But his kaleidoscopic genius was not bound by music, and it led him to develop an oeuvre unprecedented in its breadth— This fully illustrated catalog includes documentation from the exhibition A Mind-Body Deal, with hand-painted album covers and posters, idiosyncratic drum sets, recording ephemera, multimedia sculptures, photographs, costumes, and artifacts from his scientific studies.