RICHARD PRINCE: FREAKS

NAHMAD CONTEMPORARY, 2023

New York | 2023

Richard Prince’s FREAKS exhibition traces its origins to his 1972 “dead” heads, which he considered his first soulful work. In 1998, these heads reappeared in his Hippie Drawings series, celebrating counterculture with vibrant, collective figures. Nearly twenty years later, these figures evolved into the High Times paintings, depicting a cohesive, anti-establishment community. The exhibition contrasts the safety of this collective with the isolation felt when the community dissolves, highlighting how a lone hippie becomes a “FREAK.”

The exhibition designed by studioMDA was thoughtfully designed as an expansive, open area that immediately draws visitors' attention to the large-scale paintings displayed upon their entrance. This generous layout allows the artwork to command focus, enhancing its dramatic impact. In contrast, an adjacent accent room was designed to create a more intimate and immersive environment to showcase around 40 drawings of the artist. The room was enveloped in dark-colored walls that intensified the visual experience, setting it apart from the main gallery area.