Kennedy Yanko

As part of its programme exploring dialogue between contemporary art and the permanent collections, the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine presents a series of sculptures by American artist Kennedy Yanko. Conceived in relation to the casts in the Carlu Gallery, the works are installed alongside examples of French monumental sculpture.

Yanko’s practice encompasses painting, sculpture and installation, using recycled materials, primarily metal, combined with acrylic paint. The works bring together metal structures bearing traces of their previous uses and layers of paint that suggest different textures, including fabric, skin and drapery.

In the gallery of casts, the sculptures are positioned in relation to portals and sculpted figures, creating connections between folds, volumes and materials. Their forms also draw attention to the undersides of architectural structures that are usually concealed. The exhibition brings contemporary works into dialogue with the historical collections, exploring relationships between architecture, sculpture, material and memory.