Cynthia Talmadge’s Class Gift at Santa Monica Airport Park
Santa Monica, CA - Art Production Fund is delighted to announce the public presentation of Cynthia Talmadge's large scale sculpture Class Gift (2022) on view at the Santa Monica Airport in Santa Monica, CA. This public presentation is made possible with support from Santa Monica’s Art of Recovery Grant. After a successful presentation at the 2024 Frieze Los Angeles art fair, the sculpture will remain on view through April 7, 2024.
Class Gift challenges traditional notions of public sculpture by adopting a style reminiscent of large civic installations commonly found on college campuses. Talmage's interpretation introduces a unique twist, treating the sculpture as a dynamic canvas adorned with remnants of collegiate life. Sticky notes, flyers, lost notices, and even a streaming roll of toilet paper are affixed to the sculpture, offering a glimpse into the everyday experiences and aspirations of students. Described as both banal and melodramatic, these additions serve as poignant reminders of the unfulfilled promises often associated with academic institutions. Through Class Gift, Talmage prompts viewers to reflect on the complexities of higher education and the societal expectations placed upon it.
Class Gift was originally exhibited in London, UK, within Talmadge’s Winter Break exhibition with Carl Kostyal 2022, and then subsequently as part of the on-site public art program Frieze Projects: Set Seen, curated by Art Production Fund during Frieze Los Angeles 2024.
Born in New York City and based in Brooklyn, Cynthia Talmage is a renowned artist known for exploring contemporary Americana and tabloid culture. Her work, spanning paintings, photographs, and installations, delves into the intersection of intense emotional experiences and their portrayal in media.
CYNTHIA TALMADGE b. 1989 in New York City. Talmadge holds a BFA in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design. Solo exhibitions of her work include Seven Sisters at Carl Kostyal in Milan, Italy; Four Courtroom Outfits of Anna Delvey at Soft Opening in London, UK; 1076 Madison at 56 Henry in New York City; As the World Turns at Halsey McKay Gallery in New York City; and Leaves Of Absence at 56 Henry in New York City; among others. Group exhibitions that have shown her work include Art on the Grid at Public Art Fund in New York City; A group of more or less than 10 at Winter Street Gallery in Edgartown, Massachusetts; Labyrinth of Solitude at 56 HENRY in New York City; Hollywood Babylon: A Re-Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome at Deitch in Los Angeles, California; and Still Looking: A Still Life Show at Artual Gallery in Beirut, Lebanon; among others. Her work has been written about in numerous publications, including Art in America Magazine, The New York Times, The New Yorker, Artforum, Cultured Magazine, and Hyperallergic, among others. Talmadge lives and works in New York City.
ART OF RECOVERY: As part of the City of Santa Monica’s Economic Recovery Task Force, the Art of Recovery grant program harnesses the arts to play a major role in recovery efforts while highlighting Santa Monica as a place of culture and unique experiences. Inspired by the WPA-era’s Federal Art Project, this initiative puts artists to work to implement projects that focus on four main priorities: Economic Recovery, Racial Justice & Cultural Equity, Wellbeing & Public Health, and Community Connectedness.
Learn more about the Art Of Recovery program here.
ART PRODUCTION FUND is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to commissioning and producing ambitious public art projects, reaching new audiences, and expanding awareness through contemporary art. Art Production Fund (APF) acts as a producer, providing guidance, resources, and support to artists for complex projects. Founded in 2000 by Doreen Remen and Yvonne Force Villareal, APF produces bold commissions and site-specific projects nationwide. It operates on a modest scale, responding quickly to opportunities and commissioning risk-taking projects in public art. Through strategic partnerships, APF expands its capacity and challenges artists to push beyond their usual practice, collaborating with private and non-profit institutions to enhance the realization of elaborate public art projects.
