With widespread vaccinations and the return of mild weather, New York City is springing back to life. Throngs of people fill outdoor bars and restaurants; parks teem with chatter. In a nod to our Jazz Age dandy, Eustace Tilley, Nina Chanel Abney’s first cover raises a glass to the spirit of the moment. We recently asked Abney a few questions about her approach, her future projects, and her life in lockdown.
The bouquet of COVID-19 flowers gently captures the struggle of the past year. What do you think a renaissance in New York social culture could look like?
Now that people are enjoying the outdoors, there are more options for socializing. But, personally, I like New York and New Yorkers with as much distance as possible between me and the next person. A renaissance in hygiene is what we need; that will allow everyone to have a better time hanging out. I hope everyone keeps washing their hands and being considerate of others. We’ve been through a lot over the past year, and COVID-19 is still active and present.
You’ve shown your work on city streets, in fine-art galleries, and on a deck of Uno cards. Does your approach change depending on who the intended audience is?
My approach may be different depending on the project and what’s appropriate for it. My intended audience is everyone; I hope anyone can find a way to connect to my work. That being said, I like to use art in public spaces to consider more local issues. In the gallery setting, there really aren’t any restrictions on what one can do, so I typically use that venue to push my own boundaries, whether in content or visual language.
How did quarantine affect your work? Did you begin any projects that were influenced by the lockdown?
Lockdown forced me to think outside of the box, as people were no longer able to experience art in person. That led me to experiment with augmented reality: I created a piece that could be experienced nearly anywhere, at any time. And I became interested in some commercial projects, which led me to create those Uno cards with Mattel. With everyone being stuck in the house, it seemed like a good idea to create playable art.
What are your upcoming projects? And is there a venue that you haven’t yet tried but are curious about?
I’m having an exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales that will open toward the end of October. I will also have public works popping up in Toronto, Chicago, and Miami this summer. And, now that we can move around again, I’m curious about outdoor sculpture parks such as the Storm King Art Center. I’m very excited about the possibility of creating large public sculptures.
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