Simone Leigh's largest exhibition yet to explore 'art made under fascism'

"Bringing together bronze and ceramic sculpture with film in large-scale installations, Leigh will create monumental new works on occasion of this exhibition,"

"I've been thinking about American history a lot in the development of these works because we're now living under full-on fascism here,"

"I've been thinking about the kind of art that's made under fascism."

"All institutions are under attack. I know of artists who have signed contracts to do commissions and these commissions have been either stalled or cancelled for anti-DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] reasons. So it's really happening... I'm more than concerned, it's getting a little scary."

Simone Leigh will take over the Royal Academy of Arts in London in late 2027 with the largest exhibition of her work to date. The show will combine bronze and ceramic sculpture with film and large-scale installations, and will include monumental new works. Tarini Malik will curate the exhibition. Themes will include architecture and art produced under fascist regimes and reflections on American history. Leigh links current political attacks on institutions and the rollback of DEI programs to stalled or cancelled commissions for artists. The exhibition follows Leigh's representation of the United States at the 2022 Venice Biennale.

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