Whitney Biennial 1981
Jan 20–Apr 12, 1981
Cover for 1981 Biennial catalogue
The Whitney Biennial 1981 was curated by John G. Hanhardt, Barbara Haskell, Richard Marshall, and Patterson Sims.
View the full exhibition catalogue at the Internet Archive.
Artists
- Vito Acconci
- Robert Adams
- Gregory Amenoff
- William Anastasi
- Kenneth Anger
- Siah Armajani
- Charles Arnoldi
- Alice Aycock
- William Bailey
- Jennifer Bartlett
- Lynda Benglis
- James Benning
- Jonathan Borofsky
- Stan Brakhage
- Robert Breer
- Michael Brewster
- Barbara Buckner
- Scott Burton
- Harry Callahan
- Jo Ann Callis
- Louisa Chase
- Christo
- Larry Clark
- Robert Cumming
- Peter D’Agostino
- Willem de Kooning
- Richard Diebenkorn
- John Divola
- Rackstraw Downes
- Benni Efrat
- Rafael Ferrer
- Robert Fichter
- Vernon Fisher
- Kit Fitzgerald and John Sanborn
- Richard Fleischner
- Hollis Frampton
- Richard Francisco
- Robert Frank
- Howard Fried
- Benno Friedman
- Jedd Garet
- Ernie Gehr
- Barry Gerson
- Davidson Gigliotti
- Frank Gillette
- Bette Gordon
- Shalom Gorewitz
- Larry Gottheim
- Jan Groover
- Duane Hanson
- Martha Haslanger
- David Haxton
- Al Held
- Nancy Holt
- Bryan Hunt
- Takahiko Iimura
- Ken Jacobs
- Neil Jenney
- Bill Jensen
- Steve Keister
- Ellsworth Kelly
- Edward Kienholz
- Robert Kushner
- George Landow
- William Larson
- Peter Lodato
- Kim MacConnel
- Robert Mapplethorpe
- Joel Meyerowitz
- Duane Michals
- Richard Misrach
- Mary Miss
- Owen Morrel
- Robert Moskowitz
- Grant Mudford
- Elizabeth Murray
- Andrew Noren
- Arthur Ollman
- Dennis Oppenheim
- Nam June Paik
- Ed Paschke
- Judy Pfaff
- Katherine Porter
- Kenneth Price
- Martin Puryear
- Yvonne Rainer
- Leland Rice
- Bruce Robbins
- James Rosenquist
- Julian Schnabel
- Victor Schrager
- Buky Schwartz
- Richard Serra
- Joel Shapiro
- Sally Shapiro
- Paul Sharits
- Richard Shaw
- Judith Shea
- Stuart Sherman
- Hollis Sigler
- Sandy Skoglund
- Alexis Smith
- Joan Snyder
- Robert Snyder
- Chick Strand
- Wayne Thiebaud
- Richard Thompson
- Joan Thorne
- Jack Tworkov
- Bill Viola
- Russ Warren
- William Wegman
- Robert Wilson
- Robert Zakanitch
Installation Photography
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: James Rosenquist, Dog Descending a Staircase (1980); James Rosenquist, Untitled (1980); Willem de Kooning, Untitled III; Willem de Kooning, Untitled I. Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). Kim MacConnel, Greek (1980). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Russ Warren, Triumph of Death and Etla Nache; Neil Jenny, Meltdown Morning (1972/1980); Neil Jenny, Window #6 (1980); Richard Thompson, Planet Family Portrait (1980); Richard Thompson, That Awful Moment at Rainbow’s End Trailer Court (1980); Richard Shaw, Mike Goes Back to T; Richard Shaw, Back to Stinson; Richard Shaw, House of Pencils with Two Volumes. Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: top: Steve Keister, USO #58 (1980); below: Steve Keister, Untitled (1980); top right: Steve Keister, USO #63 (1980). Photograph Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Ellsworth Kelly, Untitled (1979); Jack Tworkov, The Execs (1980). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Richard Thompson, Planet Family Portrait (1980); Richard Thompson, That Awful Moment at Rainbow’s End Trailer Court (1980); Jim Shaw, Mike Goes Back to T; Jim Shaw, Back to Stinson; Ed Paschke, Violencia. Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Ed Pasche, Violencia; Jim Shaw, House of Pencils with Two Volumes; Jim Shaw, Back to Stinson; Jim Shaw, Mike Goes Back to T; Louisa Chase, Thicket; Louisa Chase, Ravine. Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). Alexis Smith, Golden State (1981). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Jennifer Bartlett, Sunrise, Sunset II (1979); Jennifer Bartlett, Water at Sunset, Swimmers at Sunrise (1979). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Joel Shapiro, Untitled (1980); Robert Moskowitz, Big Picture (1979–80). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Richard Diebenkorn, Ocean Park #125 (1980); Richard Diebenkorn, Ocean Park #107 (1980); Bill Jensen, White Heat (1978–79). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Gregory Armenoff, Bayou Teche; Joan Thorne, Avu (1980); Joan Thorne, Mazu (1980). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Jim Rosenquist, Untitled (1980); Duane Hanson, Cleaning Woman (1980); William Bailey, Still Life with Speckled Bowl (1980). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Scott Burton, Table (1978–81); Robert Kushner, Happy Hour (1980); Scott Burton, Two Chairs (1980); Robert Kushner, Same Outfit: 2 panels (1980). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Kim MacConnel, Greek (1980); Kim MacConnel, Sharkey (1980). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Ken Price, Flag; Joan Thorne, Mazu (1980); Richard Diebenkorn, Ocean Park #125 (1980); Ken Price, Avocado and Wine; Ken Price, Orange Box. Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). Vito Acconci, Sliding Doorway. Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Judith Shea, Inaugural Ball; I Like Ike; Judith Shea, Exec. Sec’y; Jedd Garet, Flaming Colossus (1980). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). Bucky Schwartz, In Real Time. Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Julian Schnabel, What to do with a Corner in Madrid (1980); Julian Schnabel, Foufi Nouti in Hell (1980). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). Vernon Fisher, Tarzan’s Adventure (1980). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Wayne Thiebaud, San Francisco Freeways (1980–81); Wayne Thiebaud, Freeways (1978–79); Neil Jenny, Meltdown Morning (1972/1980); Neil Jenny, Window #6 (1980). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Elizabeth Murray, Join (1980); Elizabeth Murray, Writer (1979). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Joan Snyder, God Bless The Child (1980); Joan Snyder, Untitled (1980). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Rafael Ferrer, El Gran Carnibal; Ed Paschke, Violencia; Bruce Robbins, Vanquisher; Bruce Robbins, Beyondo; Charles Arnoldi, Untitled (1980). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: Charles Arnoldi, Untitled (1980); Richard Francisco, Constellation (1980); Lynda Benglis, Eclosion Grouping: Maya Illusion; Amboda Flounce, Kaya Body; Amboda Flounce, Mattha Head. Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right (far left): Leland Rice, Wall Site: Blue Door; Leland Rice, Wall Site: PS1, Papered Wall; Leland Rice, Wall Site: Spray Painted Latice Against Wall. Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). From left to right: extreme right: Grant Mudfort, Los Angeles (1979); Grant Mudfort, Under Ocean Blvd.; Grant Mudfort, Hollywood. Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). Artwork installation by Jonathan Borofsky. Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). Jonathan Borofsky, Installation at 2,707,801, mm (1981). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). Martin Puryear, Bower (1980). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
Installation view of the 1981 Biennial Exhibition (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, January 20–April 19, 1981). Judy Pfaff, Dragon (1980). Photograph by Geoffrey Clements
In the News
“. . . an occasionally repulsive show. There are whole stretches of it, moreover, that are extremely boring. All the same, it is a show that everyone interested in the art of our time will want to see. It is a show that really tells us something about the condition of our culture.” —The New York Times
“Most of the photography hanging right now in the Whitney Biennial is kitsch, if one of the ways we define kitsch is an extraordinary expenditure of means with very little result.” —October
More from this series
Learn more about the Whitney Biennial, the longest-running survey of American art.