Boundary-pushing artist speaks about Art and Truth

What do I, as an artist, provide? What do I satisfy? -- Andrea Fraser, Official Welcome, 2001

Andrea Fraser is known for making waves in the art world. For over 30 years, this influential artist’s work has been identified with performance, feminism and critiquing institutions, including museums. Toronto art fans will have a chance to hear the renowned artist speak at Creative Minds: Art and Truth on April 4.

Fraser’s notable works include Museum Highlights (1989), in which she posed as a tour guide at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, leading visitors to consider “artworks," such as a drinking fountain; Untitled (2003) is a recorded sexual encounter between Fraser and an art collector who paid for the work; Not Just a Few of Us (2014), a performance for Prospect.3 explores desegregation struggles in New Orleans, and Down the River (2016) brought the sounds of Sing Sing prison to the Whitney Museum of American Art's 18,000 square-foot 5th floor.

Her most recent work, a 1,000-page book, titled 2016 in Museums, Money, and Politics, aims to understand and respond to the political, social and cultural realities revealed by the 2016 American election.

Don’t miss the chance to hear Fraser in person at AGO Creative Minds at Massey Hall where she will be joined on stage by internationally celebrated writer Salman Rushdie, award-winning filmmaker Charles Officer, and Juno-nominated musician Iskwé for ninety minutes of artful debate. Moderated by Anna Maria Tremonti, host of CBC’s The Current, Creative Minds brings these four incredible artists together in Toronto for one night to discuss the role art plays in uncovering truth in this age of misinformation and uncertain authority.

AGO Creative Minds at Massey Hall takes place in Toronto on April 4 at 8 pm. On sale now, tickets are available through the Roy Thomson Hall box office, priced from $19.50 to $79.50. Tickets can be purchased here.

A landmark partnership between the Art Gallery of Ontario, Massey Hall, CBC and Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Creative Minds is supported by Series Presenters Jonas and Lynda Prince, whose leadership inspired the development of the project. The semi-annual series aims to examine the present and imagine our futures through the eyes of some of the world’s most innovative and socially engaged artists, while celebrating the vitally important role their work plays in shaping our lives.

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