On the occasion of Counterpublic 2023, Torkwase Dyson presents Bird and Lava (Scott Joplin), a commissioned, immersive architectural and sonic installation. This new sculptural work is inspired by the legacy of pianist and composer Scott Joplin and the musical freedom Joplin found in ragtime music, which is credited as the first truly "American" musical form - a syncopated blend of classical piano and African polyrhythms with mathematical precision.

In a cycle of six animated chapters, the viewer is immersed in the artist’s oeuvre and creative process guided by a recorded commentary from the artist himself and accompanied by an exhibition-specific score composed by Nico Muhly. A continuation of the artist’s material expansiveness, Hockney’s voice surrounds viewers, providing insight into his practice as he experiments with perspective, uses photography as a way of 'drawing with a camera' and captures the passing of time.
 

Alex Katz: Collaborations with Poets takes an intimate look at the painter Alex Katz’s extensive collaborations with poets, followed by a poetry reading by his son, Vincent Katz. Spanning works created over the past 60 years, the exhibition includes print portfolios, editioned books, portraits of poets, and unique cutouts, all centering on poets and poetry. Organized by the Poetry Foundation with guidance from the artist and his son and with support from GRAY, the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to experience Katz’s deep interest in an art form whose forms and tactics he considered “more stimulating than painting.”