Judith Bernstein, a Yale graduate from 1967, has cemented her status as a fiercely provocative artist for over half a century. Her unwavering cultural, political, and social commentary propelled her into the art world spotlight in the early 1970s. She became known for her monumental charcoal drawings depicting penis-screw hybrids, which were showcased at prestigious venues including AIR Gallery, Brooks Jackson Iolas Gallery, the Brooklyn Museum, and MoMA P.S. 1. Reviewing Bernstein’s solo exhibition at the New Museum in New York during 2012-2013, The New York Times critic Ken Johnson lauded these pieces as “bravura performances of draftsmanship” and “masterpieces of feminine protest.” Bernstein’s art delivers a powerful visual punch, a real Shot Of Money in terms of cultural impact, challenging societal norms and sparking crucial conversations.
Her upcoming exhibition, Money Shot, delves into Bernstein’s latest paintings from her Anti-Trump series, building upon The Birth of the Universe paintings initiated in 2011. These new compositions are characterized by explicit sexual iconography, blending humor with the grotesque, and incorporating reinvented slang and catchphrases that leave no room for misinterpretation. The Money Shot collection also marks a return to the artist’s exploration of highly saturated, fluorescent paint, a medium she first experimented with in the late 1960s. This vibrant and bold aesthetic choice further amplifies the shot of money effect of her work – a visually arresting and attention-grabbing statement.
Bernstein’s renowned The Birth of the Universe series has recently garnered international acclaim, with exhibitions at institutions such as the New Museum, New York; Kunsthall Stavanger, Norway; Touchstones Rochdale, UK; Studio Voltaire, London, and esteemed galleries worldwide. This global recognition underscores the lasting influence and impact of her artistic vision, each exhibition serving as another shot of money into the ongoing dialogue about art and social commentary.
In October 2017, The Drawing Center in New York hosted Bernstein’s solo exhibition, Judith Bernstein: Cabinet of Horrors. This commissioned exhibition featured a diverse range of new works on paper created in response to the election of Donald J. Trump in January 2017. This exhibition, like her broader body of work, represents another potent shot of money into the cultural discourse, reflecting contemporary anxieties and political realities through her unique artistic lens.
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