Established in 1932, the Whitney Biennial is the longest-running survey of American art and still remains one of the foremost, and highly-anticipated shows the world over. This vast exhibition is perhaps most famous for showcasing works that span a broad range of mediums, and, in the past 80 editions, over 3,600 artists have taken part, including the likes of Georgia O'Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, and Jeff Koons.
Now, in the run up to its 81 iteration, Chrissie Iles and Meg Onli have been announced as the co-curators for the 2024 Whitney Biennial. This will be the third Biennial for Iles, who works as a full-time curator at the Whitney Museum and previously collaborated on both the 2004 and 2006 editions. On top of her work at the Whitney, Iles is also a faculty member of the curatorial studies programme at the School of Visual Arts and serves on the board of the Julia Stoschek Collection.
For Onli, however, the 2024 Biennial will be her first. Prior to her appointment at the Whitney, Onli served as the director and curator of the Underground Museum in Los Angeles and as the associate curator at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia. Now, in addition to collaborating on the Whitney’s upcoming Biennial, she is also working as a writer and an independent curator.
In a statement accompanying the announcement, Whitney Museum Chief Curator Scott Rothkopf shared, “it’s an honor and joy to welcome Meg to the Whitney to partner with Chrissie... at its best, a Biennial curatorial team pairs two singular voices united by shared passions, commitments, and an ineffable spark.”
While the official dates and theme are yet to be announced, many are already looking forward to seeing the direction in which Iles and Onli take the seminal event. “Meg and Chrissie will bring to the 2024 Biennial dynamic chemistry, diverse experiences, and a commitment to honoring the rich legacy of the Biennial,” noted Adam D. Weinberg, director of the Whitney Museum.
The 2024 Whitney Biennial will take place at the Whitney Museum of American Art 99 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014 with dates TBA.
