Kim Levin is an American art critic and writer. Levin was a regular contributor to The Village Voice from 1982 to 2006. Since 2007 she has been contributing regularly to ARTnews.
Levin worked as a correspondent to Opus International from 1973-1977. From 1980-1994, she was a correspondent at Flash Art. She also worked as a contributing editor for Arts Magazine from 1973-1992. Levin has also contributed to the publications; Parkett, Artstudio, Sculpture and VOIR, among others. Her essays are also in books and exhibition catalogues. Kim Levin received an A.B. from Vassar College and an M.A. in Egyptian Archaeology from Columbia University, Department of Art History and Architecture. She continued Ph.D. course work at the New York University Institute of Fine Arts.
Levin has lectured in the U.S. and internationally at: the Guggenheim Museum, The New School for Social Research, Barnard College, Brown University, the São Paulo Art Biennial, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, the California Institute of the Arts, the Cincinnati Center of Contemporary Art, and other institutions. Levin was Treasurer of AICA-USA (Association international des critiques dâÂÂart) from 1982-1984, Vice President from 1984-1990, and President from 1990-1992. She became Vice President of AICA International in 1991 and was elected President in 1996 for two terms, ending in 2002.
In 2002, an installation of LevinâÂÂs preliminary notes written on press releases and gallery announcements, appeared in the solo exhibition âÂÂNotes and Itineraries,â at Delta Axis, Memphis, curated and installed by the artist John Salvest. The show was re-conceived at Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, New York (2006), and then traveled internationally to Haas & Meyer, Zurich (2006), The Ludwig Museum, Budapest (2007), KIASMA, Helsinki (2008) and was included in the group show âÂÂRetracing Exhibitionsâ curated by Kari Conte and Florence Ostendat at the Royal College of Art, London (2009).
Exhibitions curated
- "Arnold Mesches: A LifeâÂÂs Work," retrospective including 88 paintings, collages, and drawings from 1945 to 2013. Miami-Dade Museum of Art and Design, FebruaryâÂÂMay 2013.
- Printed Project, Issue 7, Summer 2007, "Unconditional Love" an exhibition in the form of a magazine.
- Commissioner, first Busan Biennale 2003 (co-curated).
- "Waterworks", Nordiska Akvarellmuseet, Skärhamn, Sweden. 2001.
- "John Salvest: Time on his Hands", Phoenix Art Museum, October 12, 1999 â January 23, 2000.
- "Max 98", Art Museum of the University of Memphis. 1998.
- "Dui Seid: ArtistâÂÂs Estate" Karl Ernst Osthaus-Museum, Hagen, 1997. (Co-curated by Michael Fehr)
- "Borealis 8: The Scream", ARKEN Museum of Modern Art Copenhagen, November 16, 1996- January 17, 1997. The Nordic Biennial and The Main Exhibition of the Nordic Fine Arts Year, Copenhagen, 1996.
- Gwangju Biennale (1st), Gwangju, Korea, September- November 1995. (advisor)
- "Configura 2; Dialogue of Cultures" at Fischmarkt Galerie, Haus dem Kronbacken, and other historic sites, Erfurt, Germany, June 10 â September 10, 1995. (co-curator)
- "Drucksache: Prints and Issues," Kunstwerke, Berlin, April 26-June 27, 1993.
- "Tema: AIDS", Henie-Onstad Kunstsenter, Hovikodden, Norway, May 7 â June 20, 1993 (chief curator, co-curators Per Hovdenakk, Herloff Hatlebrekker, Sven Christiansen).
- "Translation," Center for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, Poland, June 26 â August 2, 1992.
- "Warhol & Basquiat: Samo & Andy", Sonje Museum of Contemporary Art, Kyongju, Korea, September 14- October 20, 1991. And National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul, Korea, November 1âÂÂ30, 1991.
- "Contemporary American Art", Museum of Modern Art, Seibu Takanawa, Japan. September 10 â November 3, 1988.
- "Contemporary Art from New York," Ho-Am Gallery, Seoul, Korea, July 15-August 23, 1988.
Publications
Kim Levin has contributed to the following publications:
Selected bibliography
- 2004. 500 ÃÂ¥rs verdenskunst, âÂÂPar i rødtâ (Louise Bourgeois: The Red Room) / Gylendal Nordisk Forlag, Copenhagen, (co-edited by Holger Reenberg, Torben Weirup).
- 2001. Modern Art in The USA: Issues and Controversies of the 20th Century, "Farewall to Modernism", edited by Patricia Hills, Prentice Hall.
- 2000. TransPlant: Living Vegetation in Contemporary Art. (Co-Author, Thomas von Taschitzki), Edited by Barbara Nemitz). Hatje Cantz, Germany 2000.
- 1999. Art Planet: A Global View of Art Criticism (The Journal of AICA). Initiated and Co-edited, Vol. 1., No. 0.
- 1996. Regina Silveira: Cartografias de Sombra. âÂÂArt in AbsentiaâÂÂ, EdUSP Universidad de Sap Paulo.
- 1995. Strategies for Survival-Now! âÂÂIdentity Crisis Update:The End of Modernism and the Issue of Cultural Identity, edited by Christian Chambert, The Swedish Art Critics Associated Press, Sweden.
- 1994. Sol LeWitt Testi Critici. âÂÂIl Contratto del DisegnatoreâÂÂ, Incontri Internazionali d'Arte Rome.
- 1990. Beyond Walls and Wars: Art, Politics, and Multiculturalism. Edited and with an introduction by Kim Levin. Midmarch Press, New York.
- 1992. Energy Plan for the Western Man: Joseph Beuys in America. Introduction by Kim Levin, edited by Karin Cuoni, Four Walls Eight Windows, New York.
- 1989. Collage: Critical Views. Foreword by Kim Levin, edited by Katherine Hoffman, U.M.I. Research Press, Ann Arbor & London.
- 1988. Beyond Modernism: Essays on Art From the 70s and 80s. Harper and Row, New York.
- 1986. An American Renaissance: Painting and Sculpture since 1940, âÂÂAppropriating the Past, Neo Expressionsim, Neo Primitivism and the Revival of AbstractionâÂÂ, Abbeville Press, New York.
- 1976. New Artists Video, âÂÂVideo Art in the TV LandscapeâÂÂ, edited by Gregory Battock, Dutton, New York.
- 1975. Super Realism, âÂÂMalcom Morley: Post Illusionismâ and âÂÂThe Ersatz ObjectâÂÂ, edited by Gregory Battock, Dutton, New York.
- 1975. Lucas Samaras, (monograph) Harry N. Abrams Art Books, New York.
Selected museum catalogue essays
- Brandon Ballengee: Augures dâÂÂinnocence, âÂÂBrandon Ballengee: On the Devolution of Species.â Chateau du Chamarande, Les Editions Domaine du Chamarande, MMXIV, 2013.
- Kim Jones: âÂÂThe Averno Drawings,â Pierogi, Brooklyn, 2012.
- Mamma Andersson: âÂÂUnder the Influence,â Moderna Museet Stockholm, Steidl. 2007.
- Leon Taracewicz, âÂÂAbsolute Landscape,â Edited by Milada Slizinska, Center for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, 2003.
- Bettina Rheims: Retrospective, âÂÂBettina Rheims: The Vulnerable Imageâ Schirmer/Mosel München. Helsinki, 2003. .
- Nedko Solakov, âÂÂNedko Solakov: The Potential of PeripheriesâÂÂ, Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, September 2000.
- Organizing Freedom: Nordic Art of the '90s, âÂÂNothing Left to LoseâÂÂ, Moderna Museet, Stockholm, 2000.
- Pierre et Gilles, âÂÂPierre et Gilles; the Ecstatic ImageâÂÂ, a conversation between Berndt Arell and Kim Levin, Turku Art Museum, Finland, 1999-2000.
- Time Migration: Techno-Art for the New Millenium, âÂÂFuture ObsoleteâÂÂ, Taipei Cultural Center, New York, Dec 3rd 1999.
- Irish Art Now: From the Poetic to the Political, âÂÂPoetics, Politics, and Irish Art: Thirteen QuestionsâÂÂ, Independent Curators International in association with the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, 1999.
- Luca Buvoli, âÂÂNot-a-Superhero, I presume?,â Temporanea, Caffeâ Florian, Venice, Italy catalog text for Venice Biennale, 1997.
- Jon Kessler's Asia, âÂÂEmpire of Images, Cabinet of SignsâÂÂ, Kestner Gessellschaft Hanover, 1995.
- Peinture. Emblemes et References, âÂÂla Volaille de RauschenbergâÂÂ, capcMusee d'art contemporain de Bordeaux. 1993-1994.
- Allan Wexler, âÂÂAllan Wexler: Structures for ReflectionâÂÂ, Karl Ernst Osthaus Museum, Hagen. 1993.
- Tema AIDS: Crisis of the Body: Art in the Age of AIDS, Henie-Onstad Kunstsenter, Hovikodden, 1993
- Dark Décor, âÂÂBeyond Horror Vacuii: The Politics of PatternâÂÂ, ICI (Independent Curators Incorporated), a traveling exhibition. 1992-93.
- Counterbalance, âÂÂArt that Makes Itself: An Essay on Sol Le Witt and Jean TinguelyâÂÂ, The Hans and Walter Bechtler Gallery, Charlotte, North Carolina, 1991.
- Warhol & Basquiat, âÂÂSamo & AndyâÂÂ, Sonje Museum of Contemporary Art, Kyungu, Korea, 1991.
- Glass: Material in the Service of Meaning,âÂÂTransparent ContradictionsâÂÂ, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, Washington, 1991.
- Lucas Samaras 1961-1991, Yokohama Museum of Art, October â November, 1991.
- Europe Unknown, Palac Sztuki TPSP, WKS Wawel, Cracow, Poland, 1991. (Volume 2)
- Dialogue Prague/Los Angeles, Santa Monica Museum, California, 1990.
- IRWIN, âÂÂSlovene PostModernâ Cleveland State University Art Gallery, 1990.
- Art/Artifact, âÂÂBring Em Back Alive.â The Center for African Art, New York, 1989. (2nd Edition).
- WegmanâÂÂs World, âÂÂWilliam Wegman's Videos: Funny Instead of FormalâÂÂ, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, 1982âÂÂ83.
- Dui Seid: ArtistâÂÂs Estate, âÂÂBlood Relations,â Karl Ernst Osthaus-Museum, Hagen, Neuer Folkwang Verlag, Hagen, 1987.
- Rafael Ferrer, âÂÂIn the Torrid ZoneâÂÂ, Laguna Gloria Museum, Austin, Texas, 1982.
- Pablo Picasso; Das Spatwerk 1964âÂÂ1972, Kunstmuseum, Basel, 1981.
- Mac Adams Mysteries, Welsh Arts Council, Cardiff and London, 1979.
- The Angel of Mercy, La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art, California, 1977. (Eleanor Antin)
Selected articles
Awards and honors
- Fellow, USC Annenberg-Getty Journalism Program, November 2011.
- Fellow, USC Annenberg-Getty Arts Fellowship Program, 2004.
- Juror, UNESCO Prize for the Advancement of Art in Cooperation with AICA, Cairo Biennale, 1998.
- Chair of Jury, UNESCO Prize for the Advancement of Art, Paris, 1995.
- SECA Fellowship, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 1993.
- First Place, Contemporary Art, Fifth Annual Manufacturers Hanover Art/World Award for Distinguished Newspaper Art Criticism, 1986.
- Visual Arts Panelist for Critic Grants, National Endowment for the Arts, 1981.
Exhibitions
External links
References