Whitney Biennial 1981

Jan 20–Apr 12, 1981

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.

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.