Parrish Art Museum Introduces ‘FRESH PAINT,’ in Collaboration With The Flag Art Foundation

The Parrish Art Museum will soon be launching “FRESH PAINT,” an innovative exhibition program developed in collaboration with The FLAG Art Foundation, a noncollecting, nonprofit exhibition space that mounts solo, two-person and thematic group exhibitions centering on emerging and established artists from around the globe.

The “FRESH PAINT” initiative will spotlight the latest works by both emerging and established artists, fostering a direct response to contemporary issues and cultural movements. It builds upon the Parrish Art Museum’s legacy of fostering community engagement and showcasing diverse artistic voices.

Scheduled to debut on June 8, “FRESH PAINT” will present a rotating series of single-artwork exhibitions housed in the Creativity Lounge at the Parrish. The inaugural installation features a multi-layered piece by artist Lauren Halsey which will be on view from June 8, through August 25.

“FRESH PAINT” circumvents traditional exhibition planning timelines, which extend years into the future and provides a platform for the Parrish and FLAG to be responsive to cultural events and promptly showcase freshly created artworks and ideas. This approach fosters a timelier dialogue between the Museum, visitors, and our surrounding community.

“FRESH PAINT” will extend its impact beyond exhibition spaces through educational initiatives like ARTscope. This teen-focused program offers participants a comprehensive exploration of the visual arts, career pathways, and practical experience in museum operations. From writing blogs to curating small exhibitions, participating students gain valuable skills and insights while receiving a stipend for their contributions.

Each new artwork will be accompanied by two sets of interpretative texts: one will be a commissioned piece of writing, creating focused and thoughtful conversations between the visual arts and authors, critics, poets, scholars and beyond; and the other will be created in collaboration with members of the Parrish Teen Council ARTscope and other museum youth groups.

As a result, “FRESH PAINT” will be in dialogue with a multitude of views, resulting in a rich tapestry of perspectives and insights. Accompanying public and educational programs, such as talks, tours and art-making activities for all ages, will connect these in-the-moment masterpieces directly to audiences the community.

“Collaborating with The FLAG Art Foundation on this initiative is a significant step forward for the Parrish,” said Mónica Ramírez-Montagut, Executive Director of the Parrish Art Museum. “We will ensure that the interpretations and discussions around the artworks are rich and multilayered, reflecting the varied perspectives that relevant artworks allow us to constantly unpack.”

Glenn Fuhrman, founder of The FLAG Art Foundation said, “FLAG and the Parrish are artist-centric institutions at their core, and I couldn’t be happier to collaboratively program ‘FRESH PAINT,’ an initiative that, in real time, highlights new work by the most significant artists working today. I’m particularly excited to engage world-class writers and local students to create a critical and expansive dialogue around these artworks.”

The “FRESH PAINT” series builds on a recent focus on projects at the Parrish that highlight diverse artists responding to cultural change. In 2017, Aggie Gund established the Dorothy Lichtenstein ArtsReach Fund at the Parrish, which recognizes that the museum serves a year-round and increasingly diverse community. Spearheaded by chief curator Corinne Erni, ArtsReach has allowed collaborations with artists that include Hank Willis Thomas, Tomashi Jackson, Barthélémy Toguo and the local Shinnecock Nation. “FRESH PAINT” represents another step forward for the Parrish, further connecting the community to the artists of today and the aspirations of tomorrow.

The Parrish Art Museum is at 279 Montauk Highway in Water Mill. For more informaiton, visit parrishart.org.