THEME

Development

Many people are asking about their themes and what they should focus on as we near the end
of year 1.

Your theme will slowly form over time but it is important you begin to think about what BROAD
ideas you are curious to begin investigating (if you havent already). Themes are usually very
natural in how they emerge in a students body of work.

What are you ALREADY investigating in your work?
Look through your projects and ask yourself.

A good place to begin for an OVERARCHING theme is to look at all the episodes names for ART
21. Each episode is centered around 1 theme and a few artists who work within that theme are
highlighted.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art:21

Season synopsis[edit]
Each season is separated into episodes by themes. Each theme showcases artists that fit into that
niche in some fashion.
Season one (2001):

Place Introduction by artist Laurie Anderson. Featured artists are Richard Serra, Sally
Mann, Margaret Kilgallen, Barry McGee, and Pepon Osorio.
Spirituality Introduction by Beryl Korot and S. Epatha Merkerson. Featured artists are Ann
Hamilton, John Feodorov, Shahzia Sikander, and James Turrell.
Identity Introduction by comedian Steve Martin, and artist, William Wegman. Featured artists
are Bruce Nauman, Kerry James Marshall, Maya Lin, and Louise Bourgeois.
Consumption Introduction by artist Barbara Kruger, and former professional tennis player John
McEnroe. Featured artists are Michael Ray Charles, Matthew Barney, Andrea Zittel, and Mel
Chin.
Season two (2003):

Stories Introduction by filmmaker John Waters (directed by Charles Atlas). Featured artists
are Kara Walker, Kiki Smith, Do-Ho Suh, and Trenton Doyle Hancock.
Loss and Desire Introduction by four-time Oscar-nominated actress Jane Anderson (directed
by Charles Atlas). Featured artists are Collier Schorr, Gabriel Orozco, and Janine Antoni.
Humor Introduction by comedian Margaret Cho. (directed by Charles Atlas) Featured artists
are Eleanor Antin, Raymond Pettibon, Elizabeth Murray, and Walton Ford.
Time Introduction by dancer/choreographer Merce Cunningham. (directed by Charles Atlas)
Featured artists are Martin Puryear, Paul Pfeiffer, Vija Celmins, and Tim Hawkinson.
Season three (2005):
 Power Introduction by actor David Alan Grier. Featured artists are Cai Guo-Qiang, Laylah
Ali, Krzysztof Wodiczko, Ida Applebroog, Teresa Hubbard, and Alexander Birchler.
Memory Introduction by actress Isabella Rossellini. Featured artists are Susan
Rothenberg, Mike Kelley, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Josiah McElheny, Teresa Hubbard, and Alexander
Birchler.
Play Introduction by basketball player Grant Hill. Featured artists are Jessica
Stockholder, Oliver Herring, Arturo Herrera, Ellen Gallagher, Teresa Hubbard, and Alexander
Birchler.
Structures Introduction by actor Sam Waterston. Featured artists are Matthew Ritchie, Fred
Wilson, Richard Tuttle, Roni Horn, Teresa Hubbard, and Alexander Birchler.
Season four (2007):

Romance Featured artists are Laurie Simmons, Lari Pittman, Judy Pfaff, and Pierre Huyghe.
Protest Featured artists are Nancy Spero, An-My L, Alfredo Jaar, and Jenny Holzer.
Ecology Featured artists are Ursula von Rydingsvard, Iigo Manglano-Ovalle, Robert Adams,
and Mark Dion.
Paradox Featured artists are Mark Bradford, Catherine Sullivan, Robert Ryman, Jennifer
Allora, and Guillermo Calzadilla.
Season five (2009):

Compassion Featured artists are William Kentridge, Doris Salcedo and Carrie Mae Weems.
Fantasy Featured artists are Cao Fei, Mary Heilmann, Jeff Koons, and Florian Maier-Aichen.
Transformation Featured artists are Paul McCarthy, Cindy Sherman, Yinka Shonibare.
Systems Featured artists are Julie Mehretu, John Baldessari, Kimsooja, and Allan McCollum.
Season six (2012):

Change Featured artists are Ai Weiwei, Catherine Opie, and El Anatsui.

Boundaries Featured artists are assume vivid astro focus, David Altmejd, Lynda Benglis,
and Tabaimo.
History Featured artists are Glenn Ligon, Marina Abramovi, and Mary Reid Kelley.
Balance Featured artists are Rackstraw Downes, Robert Mangold, and Sarah Sze.
Season seven (2014):

Investigation (10/24) Featured artists are Thomas Hirschhorn, Graciela Iturbide, Leonardo
Drew.
Secrets (10/31) Featured artists are Elliott Hundley, Arlene Shechet, Trevor Paglen.
Legacy (11/7) Featured artists are Tania Bruguera, Abraham Cruzvillegas, Wolfgang Laib.
Fiction (11/14) Featured artists are Katharina Grosse, Joan Jonas, Omer Fast.