With a practice grounded in the New York art scene, establishing zingmagazine in 1995, and co-founding and curating the Dikeou Collection in Denver, Devon Dikeou has progressively accumulated an in-depth archive since the early 1990s that has a culturally broad and deeply personal history within the contemporary art landscape. For this event, Devon will be joined by Josh T. Franco, Head of Collecting at the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art, for a collaborative and performative unpacking of her diverse archives as they pertain to her art practice, zingmagazine, and Dikeou Collection. This event is free and open to the public.
The Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art is the world’s preeminent and most widely used research center dedicated to collecting, preserving, and providing access to primary sources that document the history of the visual arts in the United States. Founded on the belief that the public needs free and open access to the most valuable research materials, its collections are available to all who wish to consult original papers at its research centers or use its reference services remotely every year, and to millions who visit online to consult the Archives’ digitized collections.
Josh T. Franco is an artist and art historian from West Texas. As Head of Collecting at the Archives of American Art, Franco works to identify, investigate, and acquire personal papers, institutional records and other primary sources that tell the stories of American art. In addition to ensuring their preservation at the Smithsonian, Franco advises researchers working in the Archives, making them aware of materials relevant to their pursuits. Franco also advises early and mid-career artists on planning for the future of their personal papers.
Devon Dikeou is an artist based in Denver, New York City, and Austin, TX. Her work has been exhibited internationally at numerous museums, foundations, and galleries including the New Museum, The Contemporary Austin, MAMCO, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Artpace San Antonio, Moore College of Art and Design, Tricia Collins Grand Salon, James Fuentes Gallery, 179 Canal, Kai Matsumiya, and Postmasters as well as special projects at art fairs including Art Basel Statements, NADA New York & Miami, Independent, and The Armory Show. Devon is the founder, editor, and publisher of zingmagazine, and curator/co-founder (with brother Pany Dikeou) of The Dikeou Collection in downtown Denver.
