ARMORY WEEK 2017

“F—ed”: All the Political Art at Armory Week 2017, from Calls to Action to Cries of Dismay

by Steph Eckardt

New York Fashion Week’s political animus migrated to the many art fairs of Armory Week in the past few days, as hundreds of international galleries descending on New York can’t help but invoke America under the Trump administration, whether explicitly or implicitly. A wrap-around hub at Spring/Break practically transports viewers from Times Square to the Women’s March through life-size, on-the-ground photos; while other booths are simply filled with takes on American flags, covered with slogans that range from the more activist-minded—”question your patriotism”—to the rather straightforward “f—ed.” (There’re also anti-Trump tote bags, and a red “Make America Great Again” hat, shredded.) The militant spirit has even embedded in the more refined, white-walled fairs. At the Armory Show, Awol Erizku, noted Beyoncé photographer, erected an American flag adorned with a black panther. Buyers and collectors, including a well-dressed man in a “Not My President” baseball cap, took in the scene at the fair’s bar, where a red banner reminded the crowd, in all-caps, “THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES.” From chairs made of police barricades at Independent New York to Carrie Mae Weems‘s recreation of Sandra Bland’s jail booking sheet, get a look at the most political art on display across New York this week, here.

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Katie Thompson

David Kramer in “Special Project: American/Woman,” curated by Katharine Mulherin, at Spring/Break 2017.

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Katie Thompson

The Dufala Brothers in Fleisher/Ollman Gallery at Independent New York 2017.

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Katie Thompson

Joe Nanashe in “Special Project: American/Woman,” curated by Katharine Mulherin, at Spring/Break 2017.

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Teddy Wolff

Marinella Senatore in Laveronica Arte Contemporanea at the Armory Show 2017.

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Katie Thompson

“Kosmo Vinyl: Cisco Kid vs. Donald Trump,” curated by Sara Driver, at Spring/Break 2017.

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Katie Thompson

Barbara Bloom in David Lewis Gallery at Independent New York 2017.

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Katie Thompson

“Ambre Kelly: Current Affairs,” curated by Yulia Tochiy, at Spring/Break 2017.

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Katie Thompson

Natalie Baxter in “Special Project: American/Woman,” curated by Katharine Mulherin, at Spring/Break 2017.

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Teddy Wolff

Carrie Mae Weems in Jack Shainman Gallery at the Armory Show 2017.

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Katie Thompson

“Michael Holman Paintings,” curated by Ambre Kelly + Andrew Gori at Spring/Break 2017.

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Katie Thompson

“Phil Buehler: American Trilogy,” curated by Larry Walczak, at Spring/Break 2017.

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Teddy Wolff

Awol Erizku in Ben Brown Fine Arts at the Armory Show 2017.

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Katie Thompson

Rirkrit Tiravanija in White Columns at Independent New York 2017.

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Katie Thompson

Michael Scogging in “Special Project: American/Woman,” curated by Katharine Mulherin, at Spring/Break 2017.

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Teddy Wolff

Daniel Joseph Martinez in Roberts & Tilton at the Armory Show 2017.

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Katie Thompson

Savannah Spirit and Cali Thornhill DeWitt in “Special Project: American/Woman,” curated by Katharine Mulherin, at Spring/Break 2017.

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Katie Thompson

“Special Project: American/Woman,” curated by Katharine Mulherin, at Spring/Break 2017.

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Katie Thompson

Barbara Bloom in David Lewis Gallery at Independent New York 2017.

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Katie Thompson

J. Morrison in “Special Project: American/Woman,” curated by Katharine Mulherin, at Spring/Break 2017.

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David Shrigley in Anton Kern Gallery at Independent New York 2017.

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Katie Thompson

Artwork at Spring/Break 2017.

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Teddy Wolff

Nobuaki Takekawa at OTA Fine Arts in the Armory Show 2017.

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Katie Thompson

Andrés Eidelstein in Karma at Independent New York 2017.

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Teddy Wolff

Kang Hyung Koo in Arario Gallery at the Armory Show 2017.

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Katie Thompson

Mauricio Cortes Ortega + Laura Genes in “Special Project: American/Woman,” curated by Katharine Mulherin, at Spring/Break 2017.

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Katie Thompson

Raymond Pettibon in Galerie Meyer Kainer at Independent New York 2017.

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Teddy Wolff

Marcel Dzama at Sies + Höke in the Armory Show 2017.