Whitney Biennial 2024: Even Better Than the Real Thing: The Whitney Museum of Art

Jenkins Johnson Gallery is thrilled to announce Mary Lovelace O’Neal’s participation in the 2024 Whitney Biennial, Even Better Than the Real Thing, opening March 20 at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Organized by Chrissie Iles, Anne Joel Ehrenkranz, Curator, and Meg Onli, Curator at Large, with Min Sun Jeon and Beatriz Cifuentes. 

Even Better Than the Real Thing delves into the concept of “the real,” which is currently undergoing significant scrutiny in our contemporary moment. This scrutiny is fueled in part by the emergence of artificial intelligence, which challenges traditional notions of reality, and by ongoing critical dialogues about identity. The participating artists, through diverse mediums such as performance and film, delve deeply into pressing themes such as the fluidity of identity and form, the intricate dynamics of historical and contemporary land stewardship, and the complexities of embodiment, among other urgent throughlines. As a unique and dynamic force in American art, Lovelace O’Neal crafts a singular visual language that seamlessly intertwines the deeply personal with the profoundly political. Her practice pulsates with a formal vitality intricately woven with social, political, and historical imperatives, authentically mirroring her journey as a Black woman and her relentless pursuit to convey these narratives through visual means. Beyond mere inspiration, Lovelace O’Neal’s work ignites essential dialogues surrounding pressing societal concerns, aligning seamlessly with the Whitney Biennial’s overarching intentions.

Mary Lovelace O’Neal is among seventy-one artists and collectives to interpret our current landscape and tell stories, spark discussion, and comment on issues across a variety of media and disciplines. The Whitney Biennial is one of the art world’s premier events, with the agenda-setting exhibition marking its 81st edition this year.