third solo show - This Is Post Theory Art

may 16 - june 28, 2025

engage projects gallery chicago

more on the upcoming show and post-theory art is here

the show presents four related arguments. it proposes four points that comprise definitions of text-based art that is also post-theory art and also artist-placed document art:

Post-Theory Art proposes three expansions of conceptual art: (1) theory-making is art; (2) an artist’s theory-placement into public spaces is an artistic act; and (3) only humans can create and place such theories as art. These comprise the definition of Post-Theory Art.
A definition of Post-Theory Art asserts that much of art and theory can come only from humanity. Some theories just come to us and cannot be built by AI. To preserve the human role in creative expression, the humanity of our art and our theories: This Is Post-Theory Art.
A related definition: Artist-Placed Public Document Art is one form of Post-Theory Art: An artist creates a theory of public importance, embeds it in a text-based work, and places both in our public courts, where court rules compel a written, documentable response. For the first time, activist art sets the terms of engagement. Now it is on the inside. The institution cannot look away.
Artist-Placed Public Document Art defined further: It is more than text-based art, performance art, and activist art. It evolves our courts into places of human art; our laws into artistic mediums; our judiciary into a performative art participant on human issues to be decided by humans. And art itself becomes a legal action for the greater public interest good. Artist-Placed Public Document Art is just one example: This is Post-Theory Art.

The above four points define Post Theory Art and one type of post-theory art. Post-Theory Art is indebted to, and makes reference to, many art histories across countries, cultures, and times — but research suggests that no artist or group has yet had a practice and theory quite like this.

In the past three years, the artist’s written articles on text-based art, the art histories of text-based art, and post-theory art have been viewed almost 2,500 times and read or downloaded almost 1,000 times. All articles are on Medium or as otherwise noted.