The Poetics of Dimensions
Guest curated by Larry Ossei-Mensah
The Poetics of Dimensions illuminates artists who transform everyday objects—durags, shoelaces, felt, leather, single-use plastic—into powerful artistic expressions. Grounded in exploration and experimentation, these works alchemize “non-art” materials into poetic landscapes. Like poetry, visual art has the capacity to dive beneath the surface and reveal new perspectives on invisible forces around us. This exhibition finds the beauty in the unnoticed and the extraordinary in the mundane.
Each work on view is an homage to overlooked histories—amplifying voices, perspectives, and materials long consigned to the periphery. Artists pull from their cultural heritage, personal narratives, and social realities to forge a unique aesthetic language that resonates across boundaries. The Poetics of Dimensions encourages viewers to explore the dynamic relationship between form, function, and meaning and reconsider materials that shape our world.
Artists: Anthony Akinbola, Miguel Arzabe, Sonia Gomes, Melissa Joseph, Hugo McCloud, Rodney McMillian, Nengi Omuku, Esteban Ramón Pérez, Shinique Smith, Moffat Takadiwa, and Nari Ward
Initially conceived for a presentation at Art Basel Miami Beach 2023 presented by UBS and ARTNOIR with curatorial assistance from Kiara Cristina Ventura, The Poetics of Dimensions showcased the talents of Anthony Akinbola, Sonia Gomes, Melissa Joseph, Julianknxx, and Nari Ward. Building upon this foundation, Ossei-Mensah is curating the second iteration of the project for ICA SF, enriching it with the diverse perspectives of Hugo McCloud, Nengi Omuku, Shinique Smith, Moffat Takadiwa, Rodney McMillian, Esteban Ramón Pérez, and Miguel Arzabe, who will join the ensemble artists.
Nari Ward, The Martyrs of the Race Course, 2023 Shoelaces, Courtesy of the artist and Lehmann Maupin
Hugo McCloud, retirement, 2020. Single use plastic mounted on panel. Courtesy of Debbie and Andy Rachleff and Sean Kelly Gallery, New York / Los Angeles. Photo: Jason Wyche
Moffat Takadiwa, Object of Influence (5G), 2021 gold perfume straws and cable ties Courtesy of the artist and Nicodim Gallery
Larry Ossei-Mensah is a Ghanaian-American curator and cultural critic reshaping our perceptions of art and society with a dynamic blend of innovation and inclusivity. Ossei-Mensah has leveraged his curatorial practice as a platform to establish a global footprint, having curated exhibitions from Manila to London to Athens and, most recently, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Ossei-Mensah employs contemporary art and culture as a powerful medium for challenging norms and fostering a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world.
Formerly the Susanne Feld Hilberry Senior Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCAD), Detroit, and Curator-at-Large at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Ossei-Mensah catalyzes change. Co-founding the nonprofit ARTNOIR, he pioneers racial equity in the art world, amplifying the voices of creatives, curators, and communities of color.
Ossei-Mensah’s influence spans the globe, curating exhibitions in renowned spaces like MOAD in San Francisco, MASS MoCA, The Metropolitan Museum in Manila, Ben Brown Fine Arts in Hong Kong and London, as co-curated of the 7th Athen Biennale in Athens, MCA Denver, Seattle Art Museum, CAMH in Houston, Micki Meng Gallery and the Denver Art Museum to name a few. Ossei-Mensah consistently pushes the boundaries of contemporary expression by collaborating with trailblazing artists such as Steve McQueen, Kehinde Wiley, Chase Hall, Catherine Opie, Firelei Baez, and Judy Chicago.
Vibe out to a special exhibition soundscape on Spotify and Apple Music curated by Carolyn “CC” Concepcion.
Carolyn “CC” Concepcion is a multifaceted creative entrepreneur whose work resists easy categorization, because it grapples directly with the complex systems that make business and culture work. From developing explorations in storytelling, strategy, cultural innovation and experience design for artists, entertainers, entrepreneurs, brands and institutions, CC excels at uncovering insights and creating unique opportunities that shape the future, foster community, and expand the realm of what’s possible. CC is also one of the co-founders of the collective ARTNOIR.