Johnson’s largest-ever exhibition brings together nearly three decades of work and community-driven performance, from sculpture to spoken word.
Rashid Johnson. Courtesy of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York.
This spring, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York unveils a landmark exhibition by acclaimed artist Rashid Johnson. Titled ‘A Poem for Deep Thinkers’, this expansive mid-career survey spans the full height of the museum’s iconic rotunda and marks Johnson’s largest exhibition to date.
Opening officially on April 18, with a public preview on April 17, the show brings together over ninety works—including new commissions, sculptures, paintings, photography, video, and installations. Live performances will activate two new pieces, blurring the lines between visual art and performance.
Johnson has developed a bold multidisciplinary practice for nearly three decades that explores themes of race, identity, self-care, and cultural history. His work seamlessly moves between media—photography, video, painting, and sculpture—offering a richly layered view of contemporary life.
“This exhibition continues the conversation I’ve always been invested in,” says Johnson, “one that allows for freedom of expression and an awareness of artistic possibilities.”
Visitors are greeted outside the museum by Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos (2008), a towering steel sculpture referencing both Public Enemy and Jasper Johns. Inside, the ground floor features Untitled (2025), a newly commissioned mosaic, and Rotunda Stage (2025), a performance space that anchors the museum’s programming throughout the run.
Moving up the ramps, the exhibition unfolds chronologically and thematically. Highlights include Johnson’s early photography, text-based works, the black soap and wax Cosmic Slop paintings, and the emotionally charged Anxious Men and Broken Men series. On the top level, the immersive installation Sanguine combines steel grids, cascading plants, books, and a playable piano—a living structure activated by regular performances.
A key feature of ‘A Poem for Deep Thinkers’ is its robust performance and engagement program, running Friday through Monday for the exhibition’s duration. In collaboration with community organizations, Johnson’s installations become platforms for spoken word, jazz, teen art-making, and more.
May features performances curated by Grammy-winning saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, with appearances by ELEW, Lawrence Fields, and the Wayne Escoffery Quartet. DreamYard and Bronx-based poets take over in June, and youth from Harlem School of the Arts and Urban Word NYC contribute ongoing performances.
Teens are at the heart of the Guggenheim’s programming this season. GuggTeens Tuesdays and the GuggTeens Fest (May 2) offer art-making, poetry, and creative workshops, while the new Teen Circle initiative connects NYC teens to art through free museum membership and dedicated events.
Additional highlights include guided tours (April 19–27), a public talk with Rashid Johnson and curator Naomi Beckwith (April 23), and extended hours with live performances during the museum’s Late Shift series, held the third Thursday of each month.
Coinciding with the exhibition, the Guggenheim will publish a comprehensive catalogue featuring new writing by artists and scholars, including Kevin Quashie, Tiona Nekkia McClodden, Hendrik Folkerts, and others. The publication, designed by Kimberly Varella of Content Object Studios, delves deeper into Johnson’s layered and experimental practice.
Following its New York debut, ‘A Poem for Deep Thinkers’ will travel to the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (March–October 2026) and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (November 2026–April 2027).
Born in Chicago in 1977, Rashid Johnson studied at Columbia College and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A trailblazer in contemporary art, he rose to prominence in the early 2000s and has since exhibited at major institutions including the Whitney, the Met, and the MCA Chicago. Johnson’s work draws from literature, music, and philosophy to challenge, reflect, and reframe the narratives of our time.
The exhibition is on view from April 18 2025, until January 18 2026. For more information, please visit the Guggenheim New York.
