NEW ORLEANS, LA.- Prospect New Orleans will open Prospect.4: The Lotus in Spite of the Swamp this November in New Orleans with more than seventy participating artists selected by Artistic Director Trevor Schoonmaker from a global survey of more than twenty-five countries. The exhibition’s theme, “The Lotus in Spite of the Swamp,” evokes New Orleans’ natural landscape while serving as a metaphor that reminds us that out of the depths of difficulty and desolation, art opens up a space for understanding the complexity and passion of the human condition.

Additionally, the public will have two upcoming opportunities to hear P.4 Artistic Director Trevor Schoonmaker’s plans for the upcoming triennial. On May 24th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Schoonmaker will give a public talk describing his approach to the triennial and sharing the participating artist’s projects as part of the Independent Curator Internationals’ Curator’s Perspective Lecture Series at The New School’s Vera List Center for Art and Politics (Wollman Hall 65 W. 11th Street, 5th floor). Further south, Schoonmaker will join Project Row Houses Founder Rick Lowe in conversation at Diverseworks in Houston (3400 Main St #292) on Thursday, March 30th.

Prospect New Orleans thrives on healthy, trusting, partnerships with artists, institutions, and audiences. This year, Prospect has deepened its partnerships with The Joan Mitchell Center and A Studio in the Woods to develop a robust residency initiative that allows for participating artists to connect authentically with the site of the international triennial exhibition—the city of New Orleans itself. At the Joan Mitchell Center, located in the historic Treme neighborhood in the heart of the city, artists are invited to engage with New Orleans complex culture and retreat to state of the art studio spaces. A Studio in the Woods will host one P.4 artist at their retreat and learning center located on approximately eight acres of hardwood bottomland forest thirty-minutes outside of downtown New Orleans. Additionally, Prospect has continued its successful partnership with Independent Curators International (ICI) to host a Curatorial Intensive in New Orleans and sponsoring the participation of two New Orleans-based curators.

The last edition of Prospect New Orleans’ triennial engaged over 100,000 visitors during its thirteen-week run and concluded with a financial surplus for the first time in the organization’s history. Executive Director Brooke Davis Anderson has continued to lead the organization as it has transitioned from a biennial to triennial schedule and added six new Board members in New Orleans and New York City. Prospect New Orleans also continues to build its team, recently appointing Jennifer M. Williams as Deputy Director for the Public Experience. Williams most recently served as the Executive Director of the McKenna Museum of African-American Art in New Orleans. Her strong commitment to contributing to the cultural and artistic landscape of New Orleans has led her to facilitate discussion groups on Poverty Alleviation at the Clinton Global Initiative, the Urban Bush Women Leadership Institute in Brooklyn, NY and the Dak'Art Biennial in Dakar, Senegal. In her role at Prospect, Williams will oversee, manage and implement all aspects of visitor services and public programs during P.4.

The continued growth and stability of the Prospect New Orleans is also due in part to the network of sponsors and partners that have aligned themselves with the organization’s ambitious mission. The Hyatt Regency New Orleans continues to be the official hotel partner for Prospect.4. The New Orleans Advocate has returned as the lead media sponsor. The acclaimed Prestel Publishing will publish the Prospect.4 catalog, currently in development. Bond Moroch and Cultural Counsel lead communications for the triennial. And Untitled Art Fair continues to be an essential cultural partner through our relationship with Omar Lopez-Chahoud, who serves on the Artistic Director’s Council.