Whitney Biennial 2024: Even Better Than the Real Thing

Mar 20–Aug 11, 2024

On view
Floors 1, 3, 5, 6

The eighty-first edition of the Whitney Biennial—the longest-running survey of contemporary art in the United States—features seventy-one artists and collectives grappling with many of today’s most pressing issues. This Biennial is like being inside a “dissonant chorus," as participating artist Ligia Lewis described it, a provocative yet intimate experience of distinct and disparate voices that collectively probe the cracks and fissures of the unfolding moment.

The exhibition’s subtitle, Even Better Than the Real Thing, acknowledges that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is complicating our understanding of what is real, and rhetoric around gender and authenticity is being used politically and legally to perpetuate transphobia and restrict bodily autonomy. These developments are part of a long history of deeming people of marginalized race, gender, and ability as subhuman—less than real. In making this exhibition, we committed to amplifying the voices of artists who are confronting these legacies, and to providing a space where difficult ideas can be engaged and considered.

This Biennial is a gathering of artists who explore the permeability of the relationships between mind and body, the fluidity of identity, and the growing precariousness of the natural and constructed worlds around us. Whether through subversive humor, expressive abstraction, or non-Western forms of cosmological thinking, to name but a few of their methods, these artists demonstrate that there are pathways to be found, strategies of coping and healing to be discovered, and ways to come together even in a fractured time.

The 2024 Whitney Biennial is organized by Chrissie Iles, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Curator and Meg Onli, Curator at Large, with Min Sun Jeon and Beatriz Cifuentes. The performance program is organized by Iles and Onli, with guest curator Taja Cheek. The film program is organized by Iles and Onli, with guest curators Korakrit Arunanondchai, asinnajaq, Greg de Cuir Jr, and Zackary Drucker.

View the Biennial film and performance program schedule and watch a number of the films from home on MUBI.

View the film and performance program Watch Biennial films on MUBI

Review accessibility information before visiting the 2024 Whitney Biennial.

En español

Bienal del Whitney 2024: Aún mejor que la real

La octogésima primera edición de la Bienal del Whitney, la muestra de arte contemporáneo de mayor duración en los Estados Unidos, presenta a setenta y un artistas y dos colectivos que abordan muchos de los temas actuales urgentes. Desde el comienzo buscamos organizar una Bienal que se sintiera como estar dentro de un “coro disonante”, según lo describió Ligia Lewis, una de las artistas participantes; una experiencia provocadora e íntima a la vez, de voces distintas y dispares que colectivamente exploran las grietas y fisuras del momento que estamos viviendo.

El subtítulo de la exhibición: Aún mejor que la real, reconoce que la Inteligencia Artificial (IA) complica nuestra comprensión de lo que es real, y que la retórica alrededor del género y la autenticidad está siendo usada política y legalmente para perpetuar la transfobia y restringir la autonomía corporal. Estos acontecimientos son parte de una larga historia en la cual las personas marginadas por su raza, género y capacidades son consideradas subhumanas, es decir, menos reales. Con esta exhibición nos comprometimos a amplificar las voces de artistas que confrontan estos legados y a brindar un espacio donde las ideas difíciles se pueden abordar y considerar.

Esta Bienal reúne a artistas que exploran la permeabilidad de las relaciones entre mente y cuerpo, la fluidez de la identidad y la creciente precariedad de los mundos naturales y construidos que nos rodean. Ya sea a través del humor subversivo, la abstracción expresiva o formas no occidentales de pensamiento cosmológico, por nombrar algunos de sus métodos, estos artistas demuestran que aún quedan caminos por encontrar, estrategias por descubrir para hacer frente y sanar, y maneras de unirse incluso en una época fracturada.

La Bienal del Whitney 2024 está organizada por Chrissie Iles, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Curator, y Meg Onli, Curadora General, con Min Sun Jeon y Beatriz Cifuentes. El programa de performances está organizado por Iles y Onli, con la curadora invitada Taja Cheek. El programa de cine está organizado por Iles y Onli, con curadores invitados Korakrit Arunanondchai, asinnajaq, Greg de Cuir Jr, y Zackary Drucker.

Más sobre el arte y artistas que forman parte de la Bienal del Whitney 2024: Aún mejor que la real.

Eventos en español.

A stitched figure on fabric with the caption "We are Taíno" displayed on a grainy background.

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A singer performing on stage, bathed in blue light, eyes closed with emotion.

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Large translucent art installation with amber hues in a room with floor-to-ceiling windows and cityscape views.

3

A large stone block on a wooden floor with a blurred photo of a sculpture leaning against a wall in a gallery.

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Aerial view of a person lying on a hammock over a lush forest with a river running below.

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A woman with black hair appears behind a distorted glass pane, her face and hand visibly smeared.

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Neon light installation with text on metal stands in an art gallery, wooden floors, and abstract art in the background.

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Modern outdoor sculpture resembling a stylized triangular portal, with city skyline and blue sky in the background.

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A big audience watching an artist play the saxophone outdoors.

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A twisted and porous bone structure with cavities and pearl-like objects.

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A grand piano with its lid open, set against a dark background with soft lighting.

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Intricate lace-like textile art pieces displayed in a bright gallery space, hanging from the ceiling and standing on the floor.

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A gallery interior with a wooden wall displaying numerous sketches and images, accompanied by an informational poster on the left.

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A stained red and white checkered quilt with a repeating pattern.

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Black and white photo of a building corner with "ST LOUIS AVE" sign and broken windows.

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Art gallery interior with colorful chairs scattered around and a large video screen displaying people in conversation.

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Two women at a night event with string lights, one holding a yellow cup, both looking surprised or concerned.

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A person playing an experimental music setup with various objects on a table, in front of a colorful graffiti backdrop.

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Person in a puffy green suit with voluminous orange braids against a sky with clouds.

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Hands typing on an old typewriter with the word "authors" on the screen, part of an interactive website menu.

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Close-up of a human eye with a reflection of a bride, captioned with a longing quote.

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A woman with red lipstick looks pensive, surrounded by people in a vintage setting.

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Abstract painted sculptures suspended in a modern art gallery setting.

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Two men in light suits posing thoughtfully beside a bust sculpture on a pedestal.

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Modern art installation with translucent red film panels in a gallery with wooden floors and industrial ceiling.

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Man with dreadlocks holding a slice of pizza, looking content in a room with purple lighting.

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A collage of twelve calendar pages from 2019, each with handwritten notes and overlaid geometric shapes.

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Concentric white circles creating an optical illusion on a black background.

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Two individuals with striking poses surrounded by lush greenery and vibrant flowers.

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Person in a voluminous orange dress standing in a river with a backdrop of greenery and overcast sky.

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Reflective sculpture on wooden floor with framed artworks on the wall in a gallery setting.

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Modern gallery interior with a video projected on a white wall, wooden floor, and large windows overlooking a brick building.

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Silhouette of a person with an afro dancing in a sunlit window, with a minimalist room interior.

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A radiant sun with flares beside a moon against a starry space backdrop, with the text "I give you the possibility to live."

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Man in suit walking down a covered pedestrian bridge with mesh walls and overhead lighting.

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Vibrant abstract painting with bold reds, blues, and whites, featuring dynamic brushstrokes and textures.

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A large, colorful suspended sculpture resembling an upside down teepee dominates an art gallery with paintings on the walls.

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Woman with hoop earrings and leopard print top standing before a purple curtain with twinkling lights.

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Modern art installation with curved brown sheets and a textured silver square on a beige, sandy background.

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Modern art installation with abstract wooden structures and draped fabrics in a gallery setting.

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A woman and child embrace amid falling confetti, with one comforting the other who appears distressed with a bloody mark on their face.

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Person holding a red and gold patterned cloth over a pair of microphones for an ASMR session.

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Modern art gallery with colorful abstract paintings on white walls and a pile of tangled fishing nets on the floor.

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Art gallery wall with photographs and beige abstract sculptures casting shadows.

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Abstract geometric artwork with colorful shapes and patterns on a beige background.

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Close-up of a man with intense gaze, wearing a shirt and tie, with a shadowy, reddish overlay.

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Person standing in shallow water with a reflection on the surface, creating a serene and mysterious atmosphere.

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Graphic with text in three languages discussing how stuttering can create time.

48

Modern art gallery interior with abstract paintings on wall and a kinetic sculpture with two colorful shapes on a reflective black disc.

49

Abstract geometric painting with a chaotic arrangement of wooden planks against a backdrop of stylized building facades.

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Person cycling on a chalky ridge with a stylized drawing of a satellite overhead against a clear blue sky.

51

A glowing blue skull against a black background with a burnt edge effect.

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Colorful abstract painting with stylized human figures and geometric shapes.

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Modern art installation with abstract sculptures and scattered metallic elements in a gallery space.

54

Four sculptures in human form with patterns and jewelry adorning them.

55

Black and white photo of a person with curly hair sitting outdoors, resting their chin on crossed arms.

56

A room with yellow walls and ceiling, a net hanging below white lights, and a herringbone wood floor leading to an open door.

57

Person in a hooded jacket with fur trim, facing away, enveloped in a misty white haze.

58

Performer with smeared makeup holding apple halves to eyes, sitting on a blue barrel against a black background.

59

Fossilized horse skeleton surrounded by rocks on a textured surface.

60

Person with arms raised facing a serene lake and mountains.

61

A circular cutout in a grayscale floral backdrop reveals vibrant pink flowers, contrasting with the monochrome surroundings.

62

Two silhouetted figures face each other intimately against a dimly lit background.

63

Man in a flat cap peeking through a hole in a wooden fence.

64

Modern art gallery interior with abstract paintings on white walls and a large, angled mirror installation reflecting the space.

65

A weathered, upside-down building facade that looks like the White House installed on an urban plaza with a staircase and American flag in the background.

66

A large collage of numerous photos covering an entire gallery wall, viewed from a wooden floor.

67

Abstract artwork with concentric circles, red background, wavy lines, and sandy texture.

68

A dimly lit room with purple lighting, featuring a minimalist art installation with a neon line on the floor.

69

Videos

We've partnered with MUBI to bring Biennial videos to your home. Stream eight films from the exhibition on MUBI.

View Biennial films on MUBI

Events

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Audio

Holland Andrews, Air I Breathe: Radio, 2024. Sound Installation in the Whitney Stairwell

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Holland Andrews, Air I Breathe: Radio, 2024. Sound Installation in the Whitney Stairwell

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Holland Andrews, Hyperacuseus (Version One, Sleeping Bag), 2024. Sound Installation in the Whitney Elevators

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Holland Andrews, Hyperacuseus (Version One, Sleeping Bag), 2024. Sound Installation in the Whitney Elevators

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Audio guides

Whitney Biennial 2024
Floor 1

Hear directly from artists and curators on selected works from the exhibition.

View guide

A wood panel wall covered with various sketches and printed images, mostly related to automotive designs and concepts.

Whitney Biennial 2024
Floor 3

Hear directly from artists and curators on selected works from the exhibition.

View guide

Woman adorned with a floral headpiece in a black and white photo.

Whitney Biennial 2024
Floor 5

Hear directly from artists and curators on selected works from the exhibition.

View guide

Whitney Biennial 2024
Floor 6

Hear directly from artists and curators on selected works from the exhibition.

View guide

Installation Photography

Exhibition Catalogue

A pink book titled "WHITNEY BIENNIAL 2024" standing upright on a gray surface against a neutral background.

Since its introduction in 1932, the Whitney Biennial has charted new developments in contemporary art. Amid ongoing upheavals in cultural, social, and political spheres, this catalogue offers an engaging new take on the storied institution of the Biennial while continuing to serve, as all previous editions have, as an invaluable resource about art in the United States today.

The curators of the 2024 Whitney Biennial, Chrissie Iles and Meg Onli, are both known for genre-defying, boundary-pushing thematic exhibitions. A thematically organized image section reflecting the work of artists in the Biennial is followed by entries about each artist—an approach that encourages readers to draw connections between the work of different artists. A collaborative essay by Iles and Onli presents their thinking behind the exhibition, while essays by curators and scholars Eva Hayward and Amber Jamilla Musser surface specific themes.

Buy now

Whitney Biennial 2024: Even Better Than the Real Thing is presented by

The exhibition is also sponsored by

Generous support is provided by Judy Hart Angelo; The Brown Foundation, Inc., of Houston; David Cancel and Family; Lise and Michael Evans; Kevin, Rosemary, and Hannah Rose McNeely; the John R. Eckel, Jr. Foundation; The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation; The Rosenkranz Foundation; Marcia Dunn and Jonathan Sobel; and the Whitney’s National Committee.

Major support is provided by The Keith Haring Foundation Exhibition Fund.

Significant support is provided by the 2024 Biennial Committee Co-Chairs: Sarah Arison, Paul Arnhold, Jill Bikoff, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Miyoung Lee, Joel Lubin, Michael Kassan, and George Wells; 2024 Biennial Committee members: Barbara Bluhm-Kaul and Don Kaul, Alexandre and Lori Chemla, Suzanne and Bob Cochran, Deepa Kumaraiah and Sean Dempsey, Sheree and Jerry Friedman, Ashley Leeds and Christopher Harland, the Kapadia Equity Fund, Dawn and David Lenhardt, the McCallum Family, Orentreich Family Foundation, Nancy and Fred Poses, Jonathan M. Rozoff, Katherine Sachs, Alice and Manu Sareen, Annette and Paul Smith, and Patricia J. Villareal and Thomas S. Leatherbury; and Susan and Matthew Blank, James Keith (JK) Brown and Eric Diefenbach, Jung and Nelson Chai, Jill Cowan and Stephen Davis, Martha and Paddy Farrell, Melanie Shorin and Greg S. Feldman, Charlotte Feng Ford, Cindy and Mark Galant, Christy and Bill Gautreaux, Debra and Jeffrey Geller Family Foundation, Judelson Family Foundation, Peter H. Kahng, Cathy M. Kaplan, Lisa H. Kim and Eunu Chun, the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, Iris Z. Marden, Marjorie Mayrock, Shelley and David Sonenberg, Gloria H. Spivak, Jackson Tang, and anonymous donors.

Biennial funding is also provided by endowments created by Melva Bucksbaum, Emily Fisher Landau, Leonard A. Lauder, and Fern and Lenard Tessler as well as the Adam D. Weinberg Artists First Fund.

Curatorial research and travel for this exhibition were funded by an endowment established by Rosina Lee Yue and Bert A. Lies, Jr., MD.

New York magazine is the exclusive media sponsor.

The Whitney Biennial and the Hyundai Terrace Commission are a multiyear partnership with Hyundai Motor. The Hyundai Terrace Commission is an annual site-specific installation on the Whitney Museum’s fifth-floor outdoor gallery.

More from this series

Learn more about the Whitney Biennial, the longest-running survey of American art.

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Whitney Biennial 2024: Even Better Than the Real Thing

En español

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Siku Allooloo (she/her)​

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Holland Andrews (they/them)

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Eddie Rodolfo Aparicio (he/him)

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Dora Budor

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Seba Calfuqueo (she/her/they/them)

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Debit (she/her)

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Demian DinéYazhi' (they/them)

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Torkwase Dyson (she/her)

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JJJJJerome Ellis (any/all)

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Jes Fan (he/him/they/them)

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Nikita Gale

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ektor garcia

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Pippa Garner (she/her)

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Harmony Hammond (she/her)

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Christopher Harris (he/him)

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Sharon Hayes (she/her)

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Miranda Haymon

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Sarah Hennies (she/her)

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Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst (she/her; he/him)

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Ho Tzu Nyen (he/him)

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Yasmine Anlan Huang

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Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich (she/her)​

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Suzanne Jackson (she/her)

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Isaac Julien

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Lotus L. Kang (she/her)

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Siku Allooloo (she/her)

Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich (she/her)