Luis Cruz Azaceta, Apocalypse Now or Later, 2019. Acrylic, stuff toy, wire on canvas, 72 x 72 x 14 1/2 inches.
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art first launched Louisiana Contemporary, Presented by The Helis Foundation, in 2012, to establish a vehicle that would bring to the fore the work of artists living in Louisiana and highlight the dynamism of art practice throughout the state. The 2019 edition, which opened to the public on August 3, includes 23 artists and 44 works of art, spanning painting, photography, sculpture, works on paper and mixed-media installation. Two recent paintings by Azaceta - who has lived and worked in New Orleans for over twenty years - are included in the exhibition.
Artists were chosen from among 364 applicants by guest juror David Breslin, the recently promoted Director of Curatorial Initiatives at the Whitney Museum of American Art, and represent the forefront of Louisiana’s vibrant visual culture. Louisiana Contemporary, Presented by The Helis Foundation, which is accompanied by a catalogue, will remain on view through January 5, 2020.