Politics of the Kitchen

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Politics of the Kitchen brings together artists working with a variety of photographic media who stir up new considerations that define the kitchen as something more than a place where food is cooked: the kitchen is an ideological space. Like a lively dinner conversation, this exhibition is centered around food, but expands into larger themes of labor, economics, family, nature, society, and culture.

Through the work of 15 artists and collaborators, the exhibition considers how the domestic realm is reflected in the culture and politics of our times. Lindsey Beal’s study of feeding infants and Santina Amato’s Portraits of Women with their Weight in Dough complicate our views of biological connection.

Food culture is explored in Stephanie Shih’s ongoing project, Asian American Still Life, and in the photographs of gas station kitchens by Kate Medley.

Several artists bring domestic labor into new light through their use of materials: Luisa Hübner’s kitchen implements; Bridget Conn’s tea-soaked collages; scarred cutting boards by Judy Haberl; and embroidered obituaries in Jane Waggoner Deschner’s work. Dana Sherwood’s feasts for wild animals and Rebecca Memoli’s vases explore the tension in the human/animal interface. Chow and Lin examine global economic disparity, while Ciurej and Lochman interrogate consumption in Recipes for Disaster.

The kitchen as a nexus of family dynamics is shown in the photographs of Dona Schwartz and Linda Varoma, and in the humorous videos of Hillerbrand and Magsamen. The diversity of approaches by these artists expresses the complex ways the language of food can speak.

The exhibition offers a cornucopia of engaging programming opportunities, from using food and innovative storytelling to engage the public in discussions about differing cultures; to workshops that expand public discourse and perspectives related to domesticity; to youth activities that play upon the action of following recipes and the history of instruction-based art. As with all of EUSA’s touring projects, an educational programming and engagement guide filled with resources and ideas accompanies the exhibit.

Politics of the Kitchen is co-curated by Barbara Ciurej, Lindsay Lochman, and Aline Smithson and evolved from a series of features on Lenscratch, the online journal of contemporary fine art photography. Founded by artist and educator Aline Smithson in 2007, Lenscratch is a platform dedicated to supporting and celebrating the photographic arts and photographic artists through exposure, discussion, community collaboration, and education. They also provide an ever-expanding database of opportunities for artists and useful information about both creating and promoting their work.

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Exhibition Details

  • Content

    Fee Includes:
    Press Kit
    Registrar’s Packet
    Programming Guide
    Gallery Guide
    Text Panels
    Narrative Labels
    Full Insurance
    Installation Instructions
    Custom-Designed and Built Crates

  • Curated By

    Barbara Ciurej, Lindsay Lochman, and Aline Smithson

  • Organized By

    ExhibitsUSA, Mid-America Arts Alliance

  • Out-of-Region Rental Fee

    $6,500

  • In-Region Rental Fee

    $3,900

  • Duration

    7-week display

  • Shipping

    Van Line

  • Running Feet

    Approx. 220 ft

  • Square Feet

    -

  • Security

    Standard

  • Number of Crates/Total Weight

    Approx. 4 Crates, Weight TBD

  • Insurance

    The exhibition is fully insured by ExhibitsUSA at no additional expense to you, both while installed and during transit.

Tour Schedule

Politics of the Kitchen is touring April 2025 through March 2030. The dates below reflect seven-week exhibition periods. Dates are subject to change; please contact MoreArt@maaa.org or (800) 473-3872 x208/209 for current availability.