Ishmael Randall Weeks was born in Cusco, Peru, in 1976, a city rich with Incan history. He grew up immersed in a vibrant cultural environment that later shaped his artistic vision. He studied at Bard College in New York, graduating in 2000, and attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 2007, which gave his practice a strong conceptual foundation.
His work spans installation, sculpture, video, and works on paper, exploring themes of urbanization, transformation, regeneration, collapse, and nomadic existence. He alters found and recycled materials—books, metal, tires, architectural fragments—and transforms them into sculptural objects. These works often resemble functional structures but are stripped of utility, questioning ideas of labor, cultural codes, and the meaning of built forms.
A reflection on the relationship between architecture and its social context is at the heart of his practice. He addresses the impact of man on the landscape and his interface with it, examining the crises and legacies of modernism. His work often incorporates everyday materials to create installations that reflect on systems of construction, migration, and the transformation of space.
“His practice often involves the alteration of found and recycled materials, including books, metal, tires, architectural fragments and environmental debris, which he transforms into sculptural objects and constructed spaces.”
He has exhibited internationally at major institutions like MoMA PS1, The Drawing Center, the Bronx Museum, and MAC Lima. His work is held in prestigious collections including the Albright-Knox Gallery, Deutsche Bank Collection, and MALI Lima. He has also participated in the Havana Biennial and the Cuenca Biennials.
He has received numerous fellowships, including from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Foundation for Contemporary Arts. In 2024, he had his first solo exhibition in Asia, “Collective Measure”, at Nunu Fine Art in Taipei. He currently lives and works between Brooklyn, New York, and Lima, Peru.
Q: What is Ishmael Randall Weeks best known for?
A: He is known for his site-specific installations and sculptures made from found and recycled materials. His work explores the relationship between architecture, social context, and the impact of humans on the landscape.
Q: Where does Ishmael Randall Weeks live and work?
A: He lives and works between Brooklyn, New York, and Lima, Peru. His practice is deeply influenced by his Peruvian heritage and his experiences in both North and South America.