With all of their colors, characters and over-the-top theatrics, carnivals and circuses have unsurprisingly served as artistic inspiration for centuries. And this spring, all of that under-the-big-top fun is fueling a subversive new exhibition, Carnival, curated by artist Joe Coleman and on view at Jeffrey Deitch's 18 Wooster Street gallery from May 3 through June 28. The artists featured in the show—including Derrick Adamas, Jane Dickson, Mu Pan, Mr. Gorgeous, Walton Ford, KAWS and more—engage with themes of spectacle, expression and rebellion through their works.
"In this show, I explore the many forms that this expression takes—from the amazing banners produced for side shows and crime shows, the spectacular costumes of the burlesque house, the Mardi Gras, and the art parade," said Coleman. "The influence extends to puppet show figures, whose roots trace back to ancient theater, the wax figures that evolved from medieval votive saints to the criminal and celebrity effigies of the sideshow museum, and even the miniature and flea circuses."