CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF TRANSFORMER’S WORK AS A CATALYST AND ADVOCATE FOR EMERGING ARTISTS & EMERGENT EXPRESSION IN THE VISUAL ARTS!
Transformer celebrates our 20th anniversary in 2022/23 with programming that highlights the incredible community of emerging visual artists we serve, as well as our expanding collaborators, supporters, and audiences that have helped us become an internationally recognized leader in the contemporary visual arts field.
Over the last twenty years, Transformer has advanced innovative cultural production through extensive and comprehensive support of exceptionally talented and thoughtful artists who continue to challenge and impact evolving cultural and social systems. Developing innovative, multi-faceted exhibition and program platforms, both independently and through global partnerships, Transformer presents artists’ evolving ideas and work, advancing new and best visual arts practices, and engaging audiences with emerging contemporary art.
In celebration of our accomplishments and those of the artists we serve, Transformer is honored to present several new initiatives including: Transformer20 – a large-scale exhibition at the GW Corcoran School of the Arts & Design historic Flagg Building on view November 11 – December 10, 2022; Testify! - a series of video testimonials from our expansive community of stakeholders; and - a 20th Anniversary book coming out spring 2023, and so much more!
We invite you to join us in celebrating this special milestone. See below for details.
– Victoria Reis, Co-Founder & Executive/Artistic Director, Transformer
PRESS
"The Tiny DC Art Space With a 20-Year History" - WASHINGTONIAN
Transformer20 INITIATIVES
Featured exhibitions, programs, and events celebrating Transformer’s 20th Anniversary.
TRANSFORMER20:
RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION
& BENEFIT AUCTION
NOVEMBER 11 – DECEMBER 10, 2022
The GW Corcoran School of the Arts and Design
Exhibition hours: Wed - Sat, 1-5pm
Transformer20: Retrospective Exhibition & Benefit Auction
The GW Corcoran School of the Arts and Design
November 11 - December 10, 2022
Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make possible the Transformer20 Gala on November 10, 2022. We are truly grateful for your support.
On the occasion of our 20th anniversary, Transformer presents Transformer20 - a dynamic, large-scale exhibition featuring one hundred artworks by artists from across our twenty years of exhibitions, as well as a deep dive into the organization’s extensive archives. Presented at the GW Corcoran School of the Arts and Design November 11 - December 10, the Transformer20 exhibition also featured an Online Benefit Auction of featured artworks up for bidding and purchase through 5pm on November 19, 2022.
All Transformer20 artwork sales support current and future generations of artists, with a 50/50 sales split on proceeds between participating Transformer20 artists and Transformer.
Image Credit: Transformer20 Exhibition, 2022, by Camille DeSanto.
Transformer20 Programming
Transformer20 Curatorial Walk-Through
Sat. November 12 | 1:30 PM
Join Transformer20 co-curators Victoria Reis and Georgie Payne for a curatorial walk through of the retrospective exhibition within in the GW Corcoran School of the Arts & Design Flagg Building atrium.
Transformer20 Artist Spotlights
Sat. November 19 | 1:30 – 3 PM
Last day of Transformer20 Online Auction bidding! Join us in the GW Corcoran Flagg Building atrium for 15 minute artist spotlights with a series of artists from Transformer20 speaking about their work and connection to Transformer.
The Most Lamentable Comedy | FlatFile Pop-Up Exhibition
Sat. December 3 | 1 - 4 PM
The Most Lamentable Comedy: a series of exhibitions within an exhibition, within an exhibition co-curated by Rex Delafkaran & Nancy Daley of but, also. Featuring more than 400 artworks from Transformer’s FlatFile Program, this pop-up exhibition will commence on December 3rd from 1-4 pm with six back-to-back opening receptions for the exhibitions within the exhibition within Transformer20. See the official press release of The Most Lamentable Comedy here.
TRANSFORMER20 ARTISTS
(As of 09.27.22):
Geoffrey Aldridge
Sascha Appelhoff
Eames Armstrong*
Eli Barak
Holly Bass*
Breck Omar Brunson*
Dario Carratta
Jessica Cebra*
Mei Mei Chang
Billy Colbert
Cynthia Connolly*
Lely Constantinople
Hoesy Corona
Lily Cox-Richard
Alexander D'Agostino
Rex Delafkaran
Lily deSaussure
Dahlia Elsayed & Andrew Demirjian
Tamar Ettun
Yacine Tilala Fall*
Mia Feuer*
Carl FK Pao
Thom Flynn
Emily Francisco
Adrienne Gaither
Hélène Garcia
Alessandro Giannì
Stephen Gibson
Maps Glover
Maps Glover
Alexis Gomez*
Saúl Gómez
Felipe Goncalves
Elizabeth Graeber
Pat Graham
Adam Griffiths
Jeremy Haik
Ryan Hill*
Matt Hollis
James Huckenpahler*
Amy Hughes Braden*
David Ibata*
Erick Jackson
Chandi Kelley*
Victor Koroma
Nilay Lawson*
Hatnim Lee*
Marissa Long*
Sandra Luckett
Jameson Magrogan
Carolina Mayorga
Taylor McKimens
J. Morrison
Megan Mueller
My Barbarian
Ryan Carroll Nelson*
Joseph Orzal*
Piero Passacantando*
Vesna Pavlović
Andrea Polichetti
Alanna Reeves
Ding Ren*
Lauren Rice
MichaelAngelo Rodriguez*
Raúl Romero
Bonner Sale
Mica Scalin*
Sheldon Scott
Joaquin Segura
Johab Silva*
Farrah Skeiky
Hannah Spector*
Molly Springfield*
Melanie Standage
Zach Storm*
Jay Stuckey
Scott Szegeski
TANG*
Christine Buckton Tillman
Lisa Marie Thalhammer
Kelly Towles
Antonia Tricarico
Ryota Unno
Jenny Walton*
Jennifer Wen Ma
Martha Wilson
Naoko Wowsugi
* Indicates GW, Corcoran College of Corcoran School of the Arts and Design student and faculty alumni
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
Over the last two decades, Transformer has supported exceptionally talented and thoughtful emerging artists locally, nationally and internationally, while maintaining an artist-centered approach that encourages experimentation in all aspects of exhibition making, from content and creation, to process and presentation. Since its very first exhibition Mica & Misaki opened in June 2002, Transformer has remained true to its mission to connect, elevate, and serve emerging artists and arts leaders, dedicated to presenting what is new and next in contemporary art. The organization has presented 545+ exhibitions and programs, developed partnerships with 70+ cultural institutions and 24+ countries — working with more than 3,200 artists, curators and cultural workers.
“The Corcoran School of the Arts and Design is proud to be hosting Transformer20 and welcoming back the Transformer community to the Flagg Building. The longstanding partnership between the Corcoran and Transformer has been essential to our growth and identity. Congratulations to Victoria Reis and Transformer for your tireless work in supporting emerging artists and cultural leaders,” - Dr. Lauren Onkey, Director of the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design.
Transformer20 is co-curated by Victoria Reis, Transformer Co-Founder, Artistic and Executive Director and Georgie Payne, Transformer Staff 2013-2019, Exhibition and Programs Manager from 2015-2019. The retrospective exhibition chronicles the organization’s legacy of presenting innovative, multi-faceted exhibitions and programs, both independently and through global partnerships, while also highlighting the work of artists that have been essential to establishing Transformer’s ethos and aesthetic. All Transformer20 artworks presented are available for sale via an online auction benefit that runs through November 19. Proceeds will support current and future generations of artists, with a 50/50 sales split on proceeds between participating Transformer20 artists and Transformer.
Transformer20 special programming (detailed below) includes curatorial walk throughs, artist presentations, and a FlatFile pop up exhibition within the GW Corcoran Rotunda gallery.
Widely recognized by artists and growing communities of supporters for substantially supporting and advancing emerging artists and experimental cultural production in Washington, D.C. and beyond, Transformer is thrilled to have this opportunity to highlight our achievements, and those of the exceptional artists who have been part of our continued trajectory. Transformer20 is both a look back at Transformer’s work with artists and a myriad of collaborators, as well as an invitation to support our future.
Photo Documentation by Tiph (@nerdscarf)
Transformer20 is supported by the generous donations of our Visionary Leaders Circle individual donors & sponsors, and through in kind donations listed below:
IN-KIND SPONSORS
TESTIFY!
⚡️
TESTIFY! ⚡️
A series of testimonial videos and reflections from our community celebrating Transformer and how it has ‘transformed’ their practice, work, and engagement with the contemporary field. Short videos will be presented on Transformer’s social media and website throughout the year.
TRANSFORMER - THE BOOK
SUMMER 2023
Image Credit: Transformer storefront drawing by Amanda Kleinman for Transformers exhibition, 2004.
TRANSFORMER TURNING 20!
THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2022 | 6:30 – 9PM ROOFTOP AT THE LINE DC
Thanks to all who came out to celebrate the kick off of Transformer’s 20th Anniversary June 9 at The Line DC! Transformer was thrilled to celebrate our birthday with so many donors, collaborators, and artists, and to launch our 20th anniversary of programs highlighting & supporting a diversity of emerging artists and arts leaders.
Consider joining our Visionary Leaders Circle for special invitations to upcoming anniversary special events, including our November 10 Retrospective Exhibition & Benefit Auction Gala at the GWU/ Corcoran.
Above Image credit: Maya Oren, The LINE DC Rooftop, 2019.
Below Image Credits: Albert Ting, Transformer Turning 20, 2022.
#TRANSFORMERDC20
DIG INTO THE TRANSFORMER ARCHIVES
Celebrating our 20th Anniversary all year, Transformer's bi-weekly Instagram #TBT is spotlighting milestones and highlights from our archives!
Follow along with @transformerdc & #transformerdc20
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Transformer20 graphics and branding by Theo Morrow (@morrowland_studio).
Transformer would like to acknowledge and thank the artists, staff, board members, advisors, partners, supporters, funders, collaborators, friends, and family who have made the last twenty years working in support of emerging artists and emergent expression possible. THANK YOU!