Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe
The Whitney Western Art Museum presents POP! Goes the West, a new exhibition that examines the intersections of Pop Art and the American West. Featuring iconic works by Andy Warhol alongside contemporary voices such as Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe, the exhibition explores how artists merge the visual language of popular culture with western themes to interrogate and expand traditional narratives.
Through vibrant color palettes, graphic design elements, and sharp cultural commentary, the featured works depict a multifaceted West—at once mythic and contemporary. Subjects range from Native figures and cowgirls to cell phones, pickup trucks, and tourist ephemera, inviting viewers to reconsider long-held images of the region.
In recontextualizing western iconography, POP! reveals how artists use personal and collective histories to challenge stereotypes and present more nuanced portrayals of both the historical and modern West.