Covert Histories

Contemporary artists Bethany Collins, Xaviera Simmons, and Carmen Winant address the often-overlooked histories—or gray areas—buried within our shared cultural narratives. This free artist’s talk is part of our Spring Exhibition Opening Celebration for Gray Matters, a multifaceted survey of 37 contemporary women artists working in the surprisingly vibrant space between—and including—black and white. Collins, Simmons, and Winant have several works featured in the exhibition.

The artists’ talk takes place in the Film/Video Theater at 5:30 PM. Stay afterward for complimentary snacks, a cash bar, and DJ Trueskillz in the lower lobby from 6 to 8:30 PM. The galleries open at 4 PM so you can preview the exhibition before the talk. Arrive early—seating for the conversation is first come, first served.

Artist Biographies

Bethany Collins is a multidisciplinary artist who explores the interactions between race and language in her conceptually driven projects. She has exhibited in solo and group shows nationwide, including the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Drawing Center in New York, and the Birmingham Museum of Art. Collins has been an artist-in-residence at the Studio Museum in Harlem, MacDowell Colony, and Hyde Park Art Center, among others.

Xaviera Simmons is a multidisciplinary artist who works in photography, performance, video, sculpture, and installation. She has exhibited at numerous institutions including The Museum of Modern Art, MoMA PS1, the Kitchen, and the Sculpture Center (all New York), as well as venues around the world. Currently, Simmons has a solo exhibition at The Radcliffe Institute at Harvard University. Her works are in major museums and collections including the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Studio Museum in Harlem, Deutsche Bank, and the Pérez Art Museum Miami, among many others.

Carmen Winant is a visual artist, writer, and assistant professor of visual studies at Columbus College of Art and Design. Her 2016 solo exhibitions included Who Says Pain is Erotic? at Fortnight Institute, New York, and Pictures of Women Working at Skibum MacArthur, Los Angeles, and she will present a solo exhibition at Cave in Detroit this year. Winant is currently working on an experimental book about the nature of practice.