{"id":1411990,"date":"2026-01-22T11:00:59","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T08:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1411990"},"modified":"2026-01-22T11:00:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T08:00:59","slug":"how-to-get-into-the-whitney-biennial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1411990","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Into the Whitney Biennial"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"gh-article post tag-daily-newsletter tag-newsletter no-image\">\n<header class=\"gh-article-header gh-canvas\">\n<p>                Daily Newsletter<\/p>\n<h1 class=\"gh-article-title is-title\">How to Get Into the Whitney Biennial<\/h1>\n<p class=\"gh-article-excerpt is-body\">Queens Museum leader quits, Gabrielle Goliath sues, vintage gay porn as political art, and more. <\/p>\n<div class=\"gh-article-meta\">\n<div class=\"gh-article-author-image instapaper_ignore\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-profile-image\" src=\"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/hyperallergic-favicon-d-blank-r-g-s-500-2.png\" alt=\"Hyperallergic\" title=\"hyperallergic-favicon-d-blank-r-g-s-500-2\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"gh-article-meta-wrapper\">\n<h4 class=\"gh-article-author-name\">Hyperallergic<\/h4>\n<div class=\"gh-article-meta-content\"><time class=\"gh-article-meta-date\" datetime=\"2026-01-22\">January 22, 2026<\/time><span class=\"gh-article-meta-length\"><span class=\"bull\">\u2014<\/span> 4 min read<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section class=\"gh-content gh-canvas is-body\">\n<p>Let&#8217;s say you&#8217;re a US-based artist and you&#8217;re dreaming of one day being included in the Whitney Biennial, the pinnacle of market and institutional recognition. If you think the way to get there is simply a combination of hard work and schmoozing, then you&#8217;re wrong, my friend.  <\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s where art coach Paddy Johnson enters the picture. For this month&#8217;s Art Problems column, she interviewed two former Whitney Biennial curators and two artists participating in this year&#8217;s edition about how to make it to the big leagues and what obstacles will await you. Good luck out there!   <\/p>\n<p>\u2014<em>Hakim Bishara, editor-in-chief<\/em><\/p>\n<hr>\n<hr>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-76-1.png\" class=\"kg-image\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" title=\"image-76-1\"><figcaption><span>Artist Pat Oleszko with &#8220;The Trojan Horse&#8221; (1987) (photo by Charles Benton, courtesy the artist; SculptureCenter, New York; and David Peter Francis, New York)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"art-problems-how-do-i-get-into-the-whitney-biennial\">Art Problems: How Do I Get Into the Whitney Biennial?<\/h3>\n<p>Paddy says: &#8220;Many assume inclusion is an endorsement of the work\u2019s quality, which can further an artist\u2019s career. But your art needs to speak to the biennial curators and align with cultural interests. Often, the work selected has a kind of buzz around it that is impossible to engineer.&#8221;<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-white kg-cta-immersive  kg-cta-has-img  \" data-layout=\"immersive\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label\"><span>SPONSORED<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-image-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/madsen_maud_playthegame-1-1-1.jpeg\" alt=\"CTA Image\" data-image-dimensions=\"1200x675\" title=\"madsen_maud_playthegame-1-1-1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content-inner\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-text\">\n<p><b><strong>New York Academy of Art Presents \u201cChubb Fellows &amp; Friends\u201d<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Featuring past fellows alongside a broader circle of artists linked to the Academy, the show brings together work by Danica Lundy, Dana Schutz, Tschabalala Self, Amy Sherald, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                            Learn more<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"news\">News<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/sally-tallant1200-1-1.jpg\" class=\"kg-image\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" title=\"sally-tallant1200-1-1\"><figcaption><span>Former Queens Museum Director Sally Tallant (photo by Thierry Bal, courtesy Queens Museum)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>After a seven-year tenure, Sally Tallant will step down as president and executive director of the Queens Museum this summer. She leaves behind a mixed legacy, Staff writer Rhea Nayyar reports. <\/li>\n<li>Artist Gabrielle Goliath is reportedly<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>planning to take legal action against South Africa\u2019s right-wing arts and culture minister after he\u00a0dropped her Venice Biennale commission, which included references to Israel&#8217;s genocide in Gaza.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-white kg-cta-immersive  kg-cta-has-img  \" data-layout=\"immersive\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label\"><span>SPONSORED<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-image-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/giving-receiving-2.jpg\" alt=\"CTA Image\" data-image-dimensions=\"1200x676\" title=\"giving-receiving-2\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content-inner\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-text\">\n<p><b><strong>Giving and Receiving: Memoirs of an Immigrant Curator and Philanthropist<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Marica Vilcek shares her story in a new memoir, from her early life and escape from Czechoslovakia to her 30-year career at The Met, and the decision to create the Vilcek Foundation to champion immigrants in the arts.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                            Learn more<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"from-our-critics\">From Our Critics <\/h2>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-71.png\" class=\"kg-image\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1290\" title=\"image-71\"><figcaption><span>Edward Zutrau, &#8220;Kamakura&#8221; (1963) (photo courtesy Lincoln Glenn)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"edward-zutrau-was-a-chromatic-rebel\">Edward Zutrau Was a Chromatic Rebel<\/h3>\n<p>He combined the reductive strain of Abstract Expressionism with the principles and style of Japanese ink painting, for something uniquely his own. | John Yau<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"fra-angelico-etched-the-divine-in-stone\">Fra Angelico Etched the Divine in Stone<\/h3>\n<p>The veiled symbolism of the artist&#8217;s marble and stones has largely flown under the radar, but these mystical depths are too profound to miss out on. | Daniel Larkin<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-grey kg-cta-immersive    \" data-layout=\"immersive\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-sponsor-label\"><span>FEATURED OPPORTUNITY<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-content-inner\">\n<div class=\"kg-cta-text\">\n<p><b><strong>Ovissi Foundation \u2013 2026 Awards for Artists of Iranian Heritage<\/strong><\/b><br \/><span>Individuals and nonprofit organizations can apply for several grants that provide financial support: the Ovissi Artist Award, the Modern Craft &#8211; Ceramic Award, and the MFA Award. Open to Iranian heritage artists who are US citizens.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Deadline: March 1, 2026 |\u00a0<\/span><span>galleryovissi.com\/awards<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>See more in\u00a0this month\u2019s list of opportunities\u00a0for artists, writers, and art workers!<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"comics\">Comics <\/h2>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-73.png\" class=\"kg-image\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1014\" height=\"820\" title=\"image-73\"><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"falling-in-love-with-vintage-gay-films\">Falling in Love With Vintage Gay Films<\/h3>\n<p>Solomon Brager&#8217;s comic is a semi-personal exploration of &#8220;rediscovering&#8221; vintage gay adult films from the 1970s and &#8217;80s in a moment of rampant state repression, and its revolutionary potential. If you liked <em>Heated Rivalry<\/em>, you&#8217;ll love this.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"member-comment\">Member Comment <\/h2>\n<p>Jozanne Rabyor on Hakim Bishara&#8217;s &#8220;An Ode to Lois Dodd&#8221;:<\/p>\n<div class=\"kg-card kg-callout-card kg-callout-card-yellow\">\n<div class=\"kg-callout-text\">I never would have found this artist on my own. One more reason to love (and support) Hyperallergic. Each of these depicted paintings rewards close looking. Amazing work, an amazing vision.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Commenting privileges are reserved\u00a0for paid members. Join us today!<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"in-memoriam\">In Memoriam<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-75-1.png\" class=\"kg-image\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" title=\"image-75-1\"><figcaption><span>Harvey Pratt (undated) (photo by RedFeatherFriend via <\/span><span>Wikimedia Commons<\/span><span>; edit Lisa Yin Zhang\/<\/span><i><em class=\"italic\">Hyperallergic<\/em><\/i><span>, <\/span><span>CC BY-SA 4.0<\/span><span>)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"remembering-harvey-pratt-roger-allers-and-robert-burleigh\">Remembering Harvey Pratt, Roger Allers, and Robert Burleigh<\/h3>\n<p>The designer of the Native American Veterans Memorial, a Disney animator, a picture book illustrator, and a Los Angeles painter who opened a storefront museum of his work are among the artists we honor this week. <\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"icymi\">ICYMI<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-77.png\" class=\"kg-image\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1311\" title=\"image-77\"><figcaption><span>Baghdad-born, Los Angeles-based artist Ali Eyal with his painting &#8220;And Look Where I Went&#8221; (2025) (photo Gabriel Noguez and Sean Rowry, courtesy the artist)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"these-are-the-artists-in-the-2026-whitney-biennial\">These Are the Artists in the 2026 Whitney Biennial<\/h3>\n<p>Three Palestinian visual artists, plus one born in Baghdad, are listed among the 56 participants. | Isa Farfan<\/p>\n<hr>\n<ul class=\"post-tags\">\n<li>\n                        Daily Newsletter\n                      <\/li>\n<li>\n                        Newsletter\n                      <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"gh-card post\">\n<figure class=\"gh-card-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/nycedc-habg-rfp2025-hyperallergicannouncementad-1-3.jpg\" alt=\"Request for Proposals: Operator for the Harlem African Burial Ground Cultural Education Center\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"nycedc-habg-rfp2025-hyperallergicannouncementad-1-3\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"gh-card-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"gh-card-title is-title\">Request for Proposals: Operator for the Harlem African Burial Ground Cultural Education Center<\/h3>\n<p class=\"gh-card-excerpt is-body\">Learn about this opportunity to develop a cultural education center at the historic East Harlem site during informational sessions in January and February.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"gh-card-meta\"><span class=\"gh-card-author\">New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)<\/span><\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"gh-card post\">\n<figure class=\"gh-card-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/madsen_maud_playthegame-1-2.jpeg\" alt=\"New York Academy of Art Presents \u201cChubb Fellows &amp; Friends\u201d\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"madsen_maud_playthegame-1-2\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"gh-card-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"gh-card-title is-title\">New York Academy of Art Presents \u201cChubb Fellows &amp; Friends\u201d<\/h3>\n<p class=\"gh-card-excerpt is-body\">Featuring past fellows alongside a broader circle of artists linked to the Academy, the show brings together work by Danica Lundy, Dana Schutz, Tschabalala Self, Amy Sherald, and more.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"gh-card-meta\"><span class=\"gh-card-author\">New York Academy of Art<\/span><\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"gh-card post\">\n<figure class=\"gh-card-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/for_which_it_stands-2.png\" alt=\"For Which It Stands\u2026\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"for_which_it_stands-2\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"gh-card-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"gh-card-title is-title\">For Which It Stands\u2026<\/h3>\n<p class=\"gh-card-excerpt is-body\">Commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, this major loan exhibition at the Fairfield University Art Museum explores more than a century of artists taking on the American flag.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"gh-card-meta\"><span class=\"gh-card-author\">Fairfield University Art Museum<\/span><\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"gh-card post\">\n<figure class=\"gh-card-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2025_07_10_argenis_apolinario_sva_mfa_install_0463-2.jpg\" alt=\"Grow as an Artist Without Pressing Pause: SVA\u2019s Online MFA Art Practice\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"2025_07_10_argenis_apolinario_sva_mfa_install_0463-2\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"gh-card-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"gh-card-title is-title\">Grow as an Artist Without Pressing Pause: SVA\u2019s Online MFA Art Practice<\/h3>\n<p class=\"gh-card-excerpt is-body\">Interdisciplinary, online, and connected to New York\u2019s art ecosystem. Applications are due on January 15.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"gh-card-meta\"><span class=\"gh-card-author\">School of Visual Arts (SVA)<\/span><\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p> Source URL: https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/how-to-get-into-the-whitney-biennial\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Daily Newsletter How to Get Into the Whitney Biennial Queens Museum leader quits, Gabrielle Goliath sues, vintage gay porn as political art, and more. Hyperallergic January 22, 2026\u2014 4 min read Let&#8217;s say you&#8217;re a US-based artist and you&#8217;re dreaming of one day being included in the Whitney Biennial, the pinnacle of market and institutional [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[69],"class_list":["post-1411990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-hyperallergic-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411990","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1411990"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411990\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1411990"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1411990"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1411990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}