In Practice

In Practice: Jianxin Tian

Jan 27–Mar 8, 2027

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Sponsors

Jianxin Tian, Work in Progress, 2026. Courtesy the artist and Capsule, Shanghai

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Often combining mythological or whimsical motifs with elements of industrial design, Jianxin Tian hammers reliefs onto mass-produced metal objects, as if enchanting the mundane world. Tian presses and chisels sensual bodily forms onto domestic objects, continuing an initial motivation to draw out a poetics of kitchenware that formed during the pandemic lockdown. His practice, grounded in his training in Greco-Roman classical and modernist sculpture, is propelled by an urge to contend with the iconography of everyday life.. For In Practice, Tian expands from household items to working with parts from large-scale industrial production, creating forms that diverge from the aesthetics of the assembly line.

In Practice: Jianxin Tian is curated by Sharon X. Liu, Asymmetry Curatorial Fellow and Kyle Dancewicz, Deputy Director.

Sponsors

In Practice is made possible by the Elaine Graham Weitzen Commissioning Fund for Emerging Artists, which supports the production of new work by artists selected from SculptureCenter's annual open call. This landmark endowment established in 2024 reflects Elaine Graham Weitzen’s (1920-2017) lifelong commitment to emerging artists and her enthusiastic support of new ideas in art. Weitzen served as a devoted Trustee of SculptureCenter from 1987 to 2017.

Major support for the In Practice program is provided by the Pollock-Krasner Foundation.

Generous support for In Practice is provided by Sarah Elson.

The SculptureCenter Asymmetry Curatorial Fellowship is made possible by Asymmetry.