The first large-scale retrospective in the United States of the work of Hélio Oiticica, the Brazilian artist.
One of the most influential artists of the 20th century, Hélio Oiticica’s early work began with formal and geometric investigations in painting and drawing and soon evolved into large-scale “spatial reliefs,” exploding his two-dimensional works into three-dimensional compositions. For the artist, these works were only complete when viewers interacted with them. This goal was realized as his career progressed and his work took on an increasingly immersive nature, transforming the viewer from a mere observer into an active participant.
The exhibition will include some of these large-scale installations, including Tropicalia and Eden. Oiticica spent a formative period in New York in the 1970s, engaging with the city and other artists, and expanded his work into film, slide projection environments, and concrete poetry before returning to Brazil. In addition to viewing the original works on display, visitors will be invited to wear and manipulate copies of the artist’s interactive works from the exhibition.
Hélio Oiticica: Organizing the Delirium is curated by Lynn Zelevansky, director of the Carnegie Museum of Art, The Henry J. Heinz II; Elisabeth Sussman, curator and Sondra Gilman curator of Photography, Whitney Museum of American Art; James Rondeau, president and director Eloise W. Martin, 
The Art Institute of Chicago; and Donna De Salvo, deputy director for International Initiatives and senior curator, Whitney Museum of American Art; with Anna Katherine Brodbeck, associate curator, Carnegie Museum of Art.
For more information, visit: http://whitney.org/Exhibitions/HelioOiticica When: July 14, 2017 to October 1, 2017
Where: Whitney Museum of American Art