The Agency of Access: Contemporary Disability Art and Institutional Critique

This talk is based on Amanda Cachia’s forthcoming monograph, The Agency of Access (2024), methodology for curating art exhibitions using a multi-sensorial approach. She argues that as contemporary disabled artists move away from representations of disability, they create an art of access, or access aesthetics, through works that center translation, sensory expansion, touch, and movement for audiences and offer an experience of “being with” disability. Showcasing artwork by contemporary disabled artists Corban Walker, Christine Sun Kim, and Carmen Papalia, among others, The Agency of Access inscribes contemporary disability art in the broad canon of contemporary art, where the artistic past is regarded differently. These artists make bold and compelling statements about interdependency, care, and the ways in which our environment affects disabled, ill, and immunocompromised bodies.

This event is free and open to the public. For non-Columbia affiliates and those who wish to attend over zoom, registration is required by October 15. Instructions for accessing campus and/or a zoom link will be sent prior to the event. Please use the link below to register.

The organizers of this talk are committed to accessibility and inclusivity. If you require disability accommodations, please contact Rachel Adams by Friday, October 22. A map of campus accessibility can be found at https://visit.columbia.edu/content/maps-and-directions-update.