Introduction to the Exhibition In the Tower: Barbara Kruger

Molly Donovan, associate curator, department of modern art, National Gallery of Art. A focus installation on the work of American artist Barbara Kruger (b. 1945) will reopen the East Building Tower Gallery after the space's nearly three years of renovation. Inspired by the Gallery's recent acquisition of Kruger's Untitled (Know nothing, Believe anything, Forget everything) (1987/2014), the exhibition comprises related images of figures in profile over which Kruger has superimposed her striking figures of speech. The distinctive direct address of Kruger's texts (using active verbs and personal pronouns) contrasts with her selected images of passive figures to create arresting conceptual works of great visual power. In this lecture held on October 23, 2016, at the National Gallery of Art, Molly Donovan introduces the exhibition In the Tower: Barbara Kruger, on view through January 22, 2017.