Bronx Museum Celebrates New York City's Artists with AIM Biennial Exhibition
The seventh biennial exhibition of the Artist in the Marketplace (AIM) program opens this Friday at the Bronx Museum, celebrating the work of 14 emerging artists from across New York City. Established in 1980, the AIM program offers a unique platform for young artists to develop their careers and build a community within the industry.
The nine-month seminar-based program brings together artists who are selected to participate in a cohort, where they spend three hours every evening at the museum, fostering genuine relationships with each other. This format is distinct from traditional residency programs that focus on individual studio work, emphasizing instead the importance of networking and collaboration.
According to Nell Klugman, co-curator of the biennial exhibition, AIM stands out as one of the longest-standing programs of its kind in New York City. The program's focus on building early career skills sets it apart from other city programs that often prioritize individual studio work.
This year's theme, "Forms of Connection," is particularly relevant, given the increasingly unaffordable nature of living in New York City as an artist. The exhibition aims to inspire conversation about communal experiences and the importance of community-building in the creative process.
For artists like Asia Stewart, who participated in last year's AIM cohort, the program has been transformative. "The program offers a picture of how to build a sustainable life as an artist in New York City," she says. "The AIM fellowship was really transformative for me." Her installation, "the money is in the blades," which includes a tattered American flag and a monitor, will be on display at this year's exhibition.
The seventh AIM Biennial, "Forms of Connection," opens this Friday, January 23, and will remain on view through June 29. Admission is free for all ages, making it accessible to a wide audience.
The seventh biennial exhibition of the Artist in the Marketplace (AIM) program opens this Friday at the Bronx Museum, celebrating the work of 14 emerging artists from across New York City. Established in 1980, the AIM program offers a unique platform for young artists to develop their careers and build a community within the industry.
The nine-month seminar-based program brings together artists who are selected to participate in a cohort, where they spend three hours every evening at the museum, fostering genuine relationships with each other. This format is distinct from traditional residency programs that focus on individual studio work, emphasizing instead the importance of networking and collaboration.
According to Nell Klugman, co-curator of the biennial exhibition, AIM stands out as one of the longest-standing programs of its kind in New York City. The program's focus on building early career skills sets it apart from other city programs that often prioritize individual studio work.
This year's theme, "Forms of Connection," is particularly relevant, given the increasingly unaffordable nature of living in New York City as an artist. The exhibition aims to inspire conversation about communal experiences and the importance of community-building in the creative process.
For artists like Asia Stewart, who participated in last year's AIM cohort, the program has been transformative. "The program offers a picture of how to build a sustainable life as an artist in New York City," she says. "The AIM fellowship was really transformative for me." Her installation, "the money is in the blades," which includes a tattered American flag and a monitor, will be on display at this year's exhibition.
The seventh AIM Biennial, "Forms of Connection," opens this Friday, January 23, and will remain on view through June 29. Admission is free for all ages, making it accessible to a wide audience.
. Like, I get it, some people need a space to express themselves and whatnot. But have you seen how expensive everything is there? The tickets, the parking... it's like they're just trying to squeeze every last penny out of tourists and locals alike 
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. It sounds all well and good that they're helping young artists connect with each other and build their careers, but at what cost? I mean, it's like they're just pitting them against each other for attention and funding 
. And what about the ones who can't afford to participate or even attend the exhibitions? It's all very exclusive 
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! I love how they're focusing on community-building in the creative process, especially with this year's theme "Forms of Connection". It's like they know living in NYC as an artist can be tough financially 
, so it's awesome that they're creating a platform for artists to connect and support each other. Asia Stewart's installation sounds really thought-provoking too! The fact that the program offers a 9-month seminar-based experience is unique compared to traditional residency programs, it's all about building relationships and networking 
. Can't wait to check out the exhibition this Friday 
. The fact that admission is free for everyone means it'll be super accessible to anyone who wants to check it out. I'm sure Asia Stewart's installation will blow minds - "the money is in the blades" sounds like a thought-provoking piece! Can't wait to see what other amazing art and ideas come out of this exhibition 
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The fact that admission is free is like the icing on the cake, more people should get to see and experience this amazing stuff. And Asia Stewart's installation sounds so thought-provoking, I'm defo gonna check it out when it opens... can't wait to see what all these talented artists come up with! 
it feels like you need a major platform or connection just to even have a shot at showcasing your work and that's exactly what this AIM program does 
those 14 emerging artists getting to collaborate with each other for 9 months is literally the definition of community-building 
and I think it's so cool that they're focusing on communal experiences rather than individual success 
what even is 'the money is in the blades' though? I need to see this ASAP 
I mean, sounds like my grandma's experience too... just kidding! But seriously, "Forms of Connection" is kinda deep. Like, I've been trying to connect with my couch for years and that thing ain't responding 
. But for real though, it's dope that the AIM program is helping artists build their careers and communities. Maybe one day they'll even have an art show about finding affordable avocado toast 
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. it's so hard to find the conversation worth reading anymore. anyway, i guess it's great that they're celebrating new york city artists 
They're not just focusing on individual studio work, but also on building that community and networking vibe 
It's super relevant given how expensive it is to live in NYC as an artist. The theme "Forms of Connection" is so on point 
Free admission is also a major win 
Can't wait to check it out this Friday!
in my opinion we need more spaces that prioritize collaboration over individual success, you know? Like AIM is doing something amazing by bringing together artists from all walks of life to share resources and support each other. It's not just about creating art for the sake of art, it's about building a network that can help them thrive in this crazy expensive city 
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asia stewart is one of the artists who got involved last year and said it was life changing 
. It's not just about showin' off their work, but also about learnin' from others and growin' as a person 