NEW YORK CITY.- Pratt Manhattan Gallery is pleased to exhibit the work of internationally renowned American artist, Vito Acconci. The exhibition will focus on Acconci’s most recent public art projects, done in collaboration with the Acconci Studio. During the last four decades, Acconci’s impressive career has spanned the fields of literature, performance art, film, video installations, and, of late, public art and architecture. His provocative performances, films, and videos of the 1960s and 1970s were among the most highly discussed and influential artistic activities of the era.

In 1988, Acconci founded the Acconci Studio, a design and building workshop for theoretical models. Since then, his work has moved outside of the mainstream art world to an even broader audience. Acconci’s latest projects straddle the boundaries of sculpture, furniture, industrial design, architecture, and public works. His collaborations explore the difference between public and private space and seek to invent a new kind of architecture—one that is fluid, changeable, and portable.

According to Loretta Yarlow, director of exhibitions at Pratt Institute, “The Acconci exhibition is an
especially fitting one for Pratt Manhattan Gallery, which reflects the Institute’s wide-ranging curriculum. Acconci’s amalgam of disciplines has influenced an entire generation of young artists, urban designers, and architects, among them, students and alumni of Pratt.”

Thomas Schutte, president of Pratt Institute, agrees, “It’s an honor to exhibit the work of Vito Acconci. His innovative, multidisciplinary art exemplifies the eclectic spirit of Pratt, where students of art, architecture, and design, interact and inspire each other every day.”

Conceived and designed by the Acconci Studio for Pratt Manhattan Gallery, this site-specific installation incorporates video projections and photographs of the Acconci Studio’s recent public projects, as well as playful furniture and viewing units that encourage user participation. An opening reception is planned for September 10 from 7:00–9:00 PM at Pratt Manhattan Gallery.

In connection with the exhibition Acconci Studio: Slipping into the 21st Century, Pratt will also host several events, which will be free and open to the public.