‘The Art of Food’ at Parrish Art Museum

The Parrish Art Museum’s spring exhibition, “The Art of Food,” will open on April 21, and runs through June 30.

“The Art of Food” explores the profound role of food in shaping cultures and communities. More than 100 drawings, paintings, photographs, sculptures and ceramics by 37 artists from the Jordan D. Schnitzer Foundation will be exhibited at the Parrish. Among these are major postwar figures such as David Hockney, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Ed Ruscha, and Andy Warhol; contemporary artists include Enrique Chagoya, Jenny Holzer, Alison Saar, Lorna Simpson and Rachel Whiteread; and artists with deep roots in the East End of Long Island, including Robert Gober, Roy Lichtenstein and Donald Sultan.

“The title of the exhibition aptly encapsulates how food continues to inspire and fascinate artists,” said chief curator Corinne Erni. “This exhibition brings together a remarkable array of works that delve into the multifaceted nature of food as a cultural symbol and a medium of artistic expression. The works offer a lot of joy and provoke a lot of questions about food in our society.”

The artwork comes to the museum from the renowned private collection of Jordan D. Schnitzer, a businessman and philanthropist who began collecting at age 14. Schnitzer, who began collecting in 1988, now holds over 20,000 works in his collection. He lends work from his collection to qualified institutions with no additional fees. The Foundation has organized over 180 exhibitions and has had art exhibited at over 160 museums.

“Since time began, every artist of every generation has used food objects in their art. Food is the most universal part of our lives,” Schnitzer said. “Think food and shelter. In today’s world, food impacts every aspect of our lives. Our social interactions, what we put in our bodies, those who face malnutrition every day, the effect of climate change on food production — all critical issues of our time.”

“The artists in this exhibition bring us joy and humor, but also thoughtful challenges about our health based on what we eat,” he added. “I hope everyone who visits this exhibition comes away with new thoughts about the importance of food in our lives through the voices of these amazing artists.”

The exhibition relates to the East End’s distinguished history as one of the most important fishing and agricultural regions in New York State. The area was developed into agricultural land in the 1640s, and by the 1820s as many as 95 percent of the residents lived on farms. While Greenport and Sag Harbor were ports for trade and whaling, Peconic Bay was known for its fish and shellfish. Today, the East End remains an agricultural center, producing more 100 different crops, and is an increasingly prominent wine region with more than 60 vineyards.

“We are grateful to Jordan D. Schnitzer and his Family Foundation for bringing The Art of Food to the East End,” said Mónica Ramírez-Montagut, the museum’s executive director. “The exhibition enables the Parrish to help showcase the region’s rich agricultural heritage and provides a wonderful connection to our communities and remarkable natural surroundings.

“We are thrilled to host upcoming events where visitors can further engage with the intersection of food, art and community.”

In conjunction with the exhibition and in celebration of the region’s agricultural history, special food events will be organized in partnership with the James Beard Foundation and local organizations, spanning educational programming, workshops, and conversations. From interactive digital archives to hands-on workshops, the initiatives are designed to spark dialogue and creativity around the exhibition’s themes.

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