Born in Mississippi, Arthur Jafa established his career as a cinematographer and filmmaker before gaining widespread recognition for his work in the contemporary art world. His practice often involves the meticulous editing of found footage, creating dense, non-linear visual narratives that explore the history and aesthetics of the African American experience.
Jafa is best known for his signature video works that utilize rapid-fire montage techniques to juxtapose historical imagery with contemporary popular culture. His medium primarily encompasses film and video installation, though his curatorial projects frequently incorporate a diverse range of objects, textiles, and fine art from institutional collections to further his thematic investigations.
His recent recognition includes a major curatorial project at the Museum of Modern Art titled Artist’s Choice: Arthur Jafa—Less Is Morbid, which features nearly 100 objects from the museum's permanent collection. Additionally, he is set to be featured in a dual exhibition with Richard Prince at the Fondazione Prada in Venice, coinciding with the 2026 Venice Biennale.
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Richard Prince is the subject of his first major solo exhibition in Latin America, "Richard Prince: Tell Me Everything," at Museo Jumex in Mexico City.
The New Museum will present the first US museum survey exhibition of Arthur Jafa. Titled I Am Tony, the show opens September 24, 2026 and runs through January 31, 2027 across two floors of the newly expanded museum in New York.
The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is presenting works from its collection in the South Wing under the title 'House Beautiful', drawn from Martha Rosler's photomontage series.
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