Pepón Osorio: A Lifetime of Artistic Practice

Pepón Osorio is best known for his provocative, large-scale multimedia installations that merge conceptual art and community dynamics. His visual language—explosive yet elegant—challenges traditional art canons with richly textured monumental assemblages that travel beyond accepted notions of beauty and aesthetics. He emphasizes the exhibition space as an intermediary between the social architecture of communities and the mainstream art world. His installations incorporate a multiplicity of objects to re-create fantasy-like quotidian environments—from barbershops to home interiors and taxis—that advance critical discussions. Among Osorio’s various distinctions are a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, the Skowhegan Medal for Sculpture, and the Alpert Award in the Arts for Visual Arts. A featured artist in the first PBS Art21 series, he was also recognized with the Legacy Award from the Smithsonian Institute Latino Initiative, Washington, DC. This year, Osorio received a Distinguished Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement from the College Art Association and a United States Artists Fellowship. As the Laura H. Carnell Professor, Temple University’s Tyler School of the Arts, Osorio has developed a successful teaching practice that engages art students to present work in unusual sites. 

Free; no reservation required.

This lecture is hosted by the Department of Art History and Art at Case Western Reserve University, and cosponsored by the Cleveland Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, and Cleveland Institute of Art.