Abigail DeVille
Biography
Born in 1981 in New York (USA). Lives and works in New York (USA).
She trained in painting at Yale University and the New York Fashion Institute of Technology. She creates part-archaic, part-Afrofuturist sculptures and installations using rubbish and found objects, such as the wooden door and four brooms that make up Talismán, continuing the tradition of assemblage developed in the United States and Europe.
For DeVille, the History is recorded in these objects – which are often items from everyday life – that are the receptacles of lost voices. When she talks of her work, she recalls the unfailing optimism of the African-American communities in the face of the weight of the past, and readily recites the Martin Luther King's final speech: “But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.”
Abigail DeVille's work has been exhibited at Punta Della Dogana (Venice), Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (Washington DC), Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (St Louis), Institute of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles), The Studio Museum in Harlem (New York), the Pinchuk Art Centre (Kiev), New Museum (New York), Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam). She has received honors fellow at The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard, Creative Capital grantee, received a OBIE Award for design, and nomiated for The Future Generation Art Prize in 55th Biennale di Venezia. She was in residence at the American Academy in Rome in 2017-2018.
Her work is part of prestigious collections as Pinault Collection, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art (MBMA), Kadist Art Foundation (San Francisco), Kaviar Factory (Henningsvaer), The Bronx Museum of the Arts (Bronx), The Studio Museum (Harlem), Centre National des Arts Plastiques (Paris), among others. She teaches at the Maryland Institute College of Art (Baltimore), and she's a visiting critic at the Yale School of Art (New Haven) and Columbia University MFA program (New-York).
Selected works
Abigail DeVille
Coltello, Cuchillo, knifed , 2018
reclaimed ladder, silver foil, oil bar, mannequin parts, mirror, clock
190 x 50 x 106 cm (74.8 x 19.69 x 41.73 in)
unique artwork
Galerie Michel Rein collection, Paris
N° Inv. DEVI19057
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Abigail DeVille
Moon Meditations for Martin II , 2017-2018
iron structure, silver forks, mannequin, glass, gas mask, stickers, cut papers
sculpture: 86 x 50 x 52 cm (33.86 x 19.69 x 20.47 in.) ; frame: 40 x 30 x 2 cm (15.75 x 11.81 x 0.79
unique artwork
N° Inv. DEVI21070
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Abigail DeVille
Native Tongue , 2017-2018
mannequin, wooden masks, iron wire, spoons, sewing machine, cast iron clock/pans, glass bottles
180 x 90 x 38 cm (70.87 x 35.43 x 14.96 in)
unique artwork
Collection : CNAP, Paris-La Défense
N° Inv. DEVI21069
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Abigail DeVille
Mad Lion , 2017-2018
mannequin, alarm clocks, glass bottles, wooden chair, plaster figures, wire, rope, clay mask, hubcap
186 x 90 x 95 cm (73.23 x 35.43 x 37.4 in)
unique artwork
N° Inv. DEVI21066
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Abigail DeVille
Jeffersonian Vacuum , 2017-2018
vacuum cleaner, mannequin, rope, wood, plastic, cardboard rolls, paper prints
137 x 60 x 50 cm (53.94 x 23.62 x 19.69 in)
unique artwork
N° Inv. DEVI21065
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Abigail DeVille
.0001 Pour Cent , 2017
glass bottles, hanging light bulbs
ca 370 x 400 x 175 cm / 145.7 x 157.5 x 68.9 in.
unique artwork
N° Inv. DEVI17055
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Abigail DeVille
Day 2 , 2017
shells, pastel, light bulb, wire, porcelain, figurines, oil painting
ca 82 x 107 x 24 cm / 32.3 x 42.1 x 9.4 in.
unique artwork
N° Inv. DEVI17051
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Abigail DeVille
Day 1 , 2017
mixed media
ca 222 x 100 x 30 cm / 87.4 x 39.3 x 11.8 in
unique artwork
N° Inv. DEVI17050
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Abigail DeVille
Leopold II Regi Belgarum 1865-1909 Patria Memor , 2017
mixed media
ca 220 x 130 x 50 cm / 88.6 x 51.1 x 19.6 in.
unique artwork
N° Inv. DEVI17049
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Abigail DeVille
High Spirits (tenenment) , 2017
plywood panel, vintage assortment glass bottles, wooden sash windows, charcoal, mirror shards, archival photographs, strobe lights
187,9 x 113 x 30 cm (73.62 x 44.49 x 11.81 in)
unique artwork
Private collection Luxembourg
N° Inv. DEVI17047
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Abigail DeVille
La Loge Harlem , 2017
archival photographs, shoes, string, mirror shards, polyurethane, glass, wood
96,5 x 76,2 x 15 cm / 38 x 30 x 5,9in
unique artwork
Collection : Kadist, San Francisco, USA
N° Inv. DEVI17046
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Abigail DeVille
Two Dancers on a Stage Lady Liberty , 2017
archival photographs, wooden sash window, broken glass, mirror shards, paper, mannequin hand, tape, artificial plants, fake money, polyurethane, charcoal
96,5 x 76,2 x 8 cm / 38 x 30 x 3.1 in
unique artwork
Private collection, Paris, France
N° Inv. DEVI17044
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Abigail DeVille
TimeSpace Continuum, Progeny of Walter D. Fry 1856 , 2016
reclaimed windows panes, artist archival family photographs, broken mirror pieces, metal sticks, led, oil pastel, plants
92 x 61 x 10 cm / 36 x 24 in
unique artwork
Private collection, Paris, France
N° Inv. DEVI16043
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Abigail DeVille
Nobody Knows my name (broken windows everywhere) , 2015
mirrored glass, archival photographs Vivian G. Harsh Collection of Afro-American History and Literature Archive, epoxy, mirror mastif
180 x 112 x 5 cm (70.87 x 44.09 x 1.97 in)
unique artwork
Collection: Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis, USA
N° Inv. DEVI21063
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Abigail DeVille
Talismán , 2015
wooden door, 4 broomsticks
200 x 70 x 4 cm / 78.7 x 27.5 x 1.6 in.
unique artwork
Pinault collection
N° Inv. DEVI15041
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Abigail DeVille
Black Flag (Children of the Corn) , 2015
wood, plastic film, cardboard, paint
177 x 200 x 89,5 cm / 69.7 x 78.7 x 35.03
unique artwork
Collection : CNAP, Paris-La Défense, France
N° Inv. DEVI15040
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Abigail DeVille
Sarcophagus (Ivory Tower) , 2015
refrigerator, golden paper, dried flowers, paint
variable dimensions
unique artwork
Collection : CNAP, Paris-La Défense, France
N° Inv. DEVI15039
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Abigail DeVille
America #13 , 2015
acrylic paint on masonite, wood, flexible ribbon light
244 x 122 x 5 cm / 96 x 48 x 1,9 in
unique artwork
N° Inv. DEVI15031
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Abigail DeVille
America #08 , 2015
acrylic paint on masonite, wood, flexible ribbon light
244 x 122 x 5 cm / 96 x 48 x 1,9 in
unique artwork
N° Inv. DEVI15026
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Abigail DeVille
America #06 , 2015
acrylic paint on masonite, wood, flexible ribbon light
244 x 244 x 5 cm / 96 x 96 x 1,9 in
unique artwork
N° Inv. DEVI15024
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Abigail DeVille
America #04 , 2015
acrylic paint on masonite, wood, flexible ribbon light
244 x 122 x 5 cm / 96 x 48 x 1.9 in.
unique artwork
N° Inv. DEVI15022
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Abigail DeVille
Nobody knows my name , 2015
two wooden panels, fluorescent tubes, mirrors
200 x 90 cm / 78 x 35 in
unique artwork
Private collection, New York, USA
N° Inv. DEVI15014
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Abigail DeVille
Sun Ra Orb , 2013
broken mirror fragments, chicken wire, light bulbs, accumulated debris, wood, charcoal
120 x 50 x 50 cm / 47,2 x 19,7 x 19,7 in
unique artwork
Collection : Michel Rein, Paris, France
N° Inv. DEVI14005
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Abigail DeVille
Negation: Dusk to Dust , 2013
scattered debris, canvas, American flags, white oil paint, plaster, plaster dust, red light bulb
around 250 x 90 cm / 98 x 35 in
unique artwork
Private collection, Carcassonne, France
N° Inv. DEVI13002
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Abigail DeVille
Invisible Woman , 2012
mannequin parts, trash bags, accumulated heirlooms
105 x 73 x 90 cm (41.34 x 28.74 x 35.43 in)
unique artwork
Private collection Luxembourg
N° Inv. DEVI14006
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Abigail DeVille
Harlem , 2009
found canvas, stolen TV
58 x 71 cm (canvas) ; 33 x 28 x 7,5 cm (TV) / 23 x 28 inch (canvas) ; 11 x 13 x 3 inch (TV)
unique artwork
Collection : Kaviar Factory, Hennningsværveien, Norway
N° Inv. DEVI14009
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Gallery exhibitions
Museum exhibitions
NSU Art Museum, Fort Lauderdale, USA
NSU Art Museum, Fort Lauderdale, USA
Swiss Institute, New York, USA
Swiss Institute, New York, USA
Pioneer Works Centre for Art and Innovation, New York, 2021
Pioneer Works Centre for Art and Innovation, New York, 2021
Madison Square Park, New York, 2020
Madison Square Park, New York, 2020
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Lux et Veritas, NSU Art Museum, Fort Lauderdale, USA, 2022
Lux et Veritas, NSU Art Museum, Fort Lauderdale, USA, 2022
Beneath Tongues, (cur. Sable Elyse Smith), Swiss Institute, New York, USA, 2022
Beneath Tongues, (cur. Sable Elyse Smith), Swiss Institute, New York, USA, 2022
Brand New Heavies (cur. Racquel Chevremont and Mickalene Thomas), Pioneer Works Centre for Art and Innovation, New York, USA, 2021
Brand New Heavies (cur. Racquel Chevremont and Mickalene Thomas), Pioneer Works Centre for Art and Innovation, New York, USA, 2021
Light of Freedom, organized by Brooke Kamin Rapaport, Martin Friedman, Tom Reidy, Madison Square Park, New York NY, USA, 2020, ph. Tonje Thilesen
Light of Freedom, organized by Brooke Kamin Rapaport, Martin Friedman, Tom Reidy, Madison Square Park, New York NY, USA, 2020, ph. Andy Romer
Light of Freedom, organized by Brooke Kamin Rapaport, Martin Friedman, Tom Reidy, Madison Square Park, New York NY, USA, 2020, ph. Andy Romer
Untitled, 2020. Trois regards sur l'art d'aujourd'hui, cur. Caroline Bourgeois, Muna El Fituri, Thomas Houseago, Punta della Dogana, Venise, Italy, 2020
The American Future, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (Pica), Portland, USA, 2019. Ph.Evan LaLonde
The American Future, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (Pica), Portland, USA, 2019. Ph.Evan LaLonde
The American Future, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (Pica), Portland, USA, 2019. Ph.Evan LaLonde
Lift Every Voice and Sing (amerikanskie gorki), ICA Miami, USA, 2017
No Space Hidden (Shelter), Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (ICA LA), USA, 2017
No Space Hidden (Shelter), Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (ICA LA), USA, 2017
A Picture of the Universe in Clock Time, site specific installation for Momentum 9, The Nordic Biennial of Contemporary Art, Moss, Norway, 2017
A Picture of the Universe in Clock Time, site specific installation for Momentum 9, The Nordic Biennial of Contemporary Art, Moss, Norway, 2017
Platform, The Armory show, Michel Rein booth, cur. Eric Shiner, New York, USA, 2017
Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947-2016, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 2016
Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947-2016, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 2016
Landmark, Socrates Sculpture Park, Queens, New York, USA, 2016
Only When It's Dark Enough Can You See The Stars, Peale Museum, Baltimore, USA, 2016
Only When It's Dark Enough Can You See The Stars, Peale Museum, Baltimore, USA, 2016
Only When It's Dark Enough Can You See The Stars, Peale Museum, Baltimore, USA, 2016
From the Ruins..., 601 Artspace, New York, USA, 2015, ph. by Rafafel Gamo
Armory Show, Michel Rein Paris/Brussels, New York, USA, 2015
Material Histories: Artists in Residence 2013-14 (cur. by Lauren Haynes), Studio Museum, Harlem, USA, 2014
Material Histories: Artists in Residence 2013-14 (cur. by Lauren Haynes), Studio Museum, Harlem, USA, 2014
Material Histories: Artists in Residence 2013-14 (cur. by Lauren Haynes), Studio Museum, Harlem, USA, 2014
Future Generation Prize Exhibition, PinchukArtCentre, Kiev, Ukraine, 2012
Future Generation Prize Exhibition, The 55th Venice Biennial, Palazzo Contarini Polignac, Venice, Italy, 2013
Future Generation Prize Exhibition, The 55th Venice Biennial, Palazzo Contarini Polignac, Venice, Italy, 2013
XXXXXXX, Iceberg Project, Rogers Park, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 2013
Future Generation Prize Exhibition, PinchukArtCentre, Kiev, Ukraine, 2012
Future Generation Prize Exhibition, PinchukArtCentre, Kiev, Ukraine, 2012
Fore, Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, USA, 2012
The Ungovernables, The New Museum Triennial, New York, USA, 2012
First Among Equals, Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, USA, 2012
Artist residency, Iscp, New York, USA, 2012
Installation view, Deitch Studios, Long Island City, USA, 2009
Videos
DOCUMENTARY
Abigail DeVille: "Light of Freedom"
DOCUMENTARY
Through her immersive performances and installation works, Abigail DeVille celebrates the bravery and optimism - while also memorializing the suffering - embedded within the African American experience.
Press
La Libre Belgique
Abigail DeVille
2017
Riverfront Times
Abigail DeVille
2017
Artforum
Abigail DeVille
2017
Artnews
Abigail DeVille
2017
Art Daily
Abigail DeVille
2017
City Paper
Top Ten Art Shows of 2016
2016
New York Times Magazine
Abigail DeVille
2016
Artsy
Abigail DeVille
2016
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Publications
Abigail DeVille: Bronx Heavens
Publisher: The Bronx Museum
2022
Fore
Publisher: The Studio Museum in Harlem
2012
