![Jimmie Durham, La Poursuite du Bonheur [The Pursuit of Happiness], 2003 (Courtesy of the artist and kurimanzutto, Mexico City)](https://walker-web.imgix.net/cms/Durham_La-Poursuite-de-Bonheur_2002_W.jpg?auto=format,compress&w=928&fit=clip)
Jimmie Durham: At the Center of the World is the first US retrospective of the work of one of the most compelling and multifaceted artists working internationally today. A visual artist, performer, poet, essayist, and activist, Durham (b. 1940, Washington, Arkansas) has for more than 45 years explored the potential of art to question ingrained cultural belief systems. Calling himself an “interventionist,” he has consistently made work that examines the notion of citizenship, the interface between art and activism, and the role of art and artists in society. Durham’s expansive practice spans sculpture, drawing, collage, photography, video, performance, and poetry and is noteworthy for its use of language and distinctive wit.
Featuring nearly 150 works dating from 1970 to the present, At the Center of the World provides a much-anticipated opportunity for audiences to gain a deeper understanding of, or perhaps encounter for the first time, the richly rewarding work of this complex and influential artist.
Jimmie Durham: At the Center of the World is organized by the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles. The exhibition was curated by Anne Ellegood, senior curator, with MacKenzie Stevens, curatorial assistant. Following the Hammer Museum and the Walker Art Center, the exhibition will travel to the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and Remai Modern in Saskatoon, Canada.
Contains mature content. A catalogue accompanies the exhibition.
Walker Art Center Coordinating Curators: Vincenzo de Bellis with Misa Jeffereis
Note: While Durham self-identifies as Cherokee, he is not recognized by any of the three Cherokee Nations, which as sovereign nations determine their own citizenship. We recognize that there are Cherokee artists and scholars who reject Durham’s claims of Cherokee ancestry.
![Jimmie Durham, La Poursuite du Bonheur [The Pursuit of Happiness], 2003 (Courtesy of the artist and kurimanzutto, Mexico City)](https://walker-web.imgix.net/cms/Durham_La-Poursuite-de-Bonheur_2002_W.jpg?auto=format,compress&h=1000&fit=clip)
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