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Artist’s Choice: Arthur Jafa—Less Is Morbid
November 19, 2025 – July 05, 2026
The Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art announces Artist’s Choice: Arthur Jafa—Less Is Morbid, an exhibition featuring nearly 100 works from MoMA’s collection selected by artist and filmmaker Arthur Jafa (b. 1960). On view from November 19, 2025, through July 5, 2026, the exhibition reflects Jafa’s distinctive approach to reexamining history, visual art, and popular culture. As an artist, Jafa’s work crisscrosses the worlds of art, film, and music, consistently tapping into the emotional power of association in the collages that make up his signature binders of clippings and the montages of his films and videos. Through his selections, Jafa reflects on works that have shifted the paradigm of modern art—in particular in its relationship to Blackness, Black makers, and Black life.
Artist’s Choice: Arthur Jafa—Less Is Morbid is organized by Arthur Jafa, with Thomas Lax, Curator, and Lilia Rocio Taboada, former Curatorial Associate, Department of Media and Performance. With thanks to Cam McEwen, Studio Museum/MoMA Fellow, and Kennedy Hollins Jones, former Black Arts Council 12-Month Intern, Department of Media and Performance.
The Artist’s Choice exhibition series is made possible through The Agnes Gund Artist’s Choice Fund endowed by Iara Lee and George Gund III, Lulie and Gordon Gund, Ann and Graham Gund, and Sarah and Geoffrey Gund.
Additional funding is provided by the Annual Exhibition Fund.
Press Kit
Images
Alfred Stieglitz, The Terminal, 1893. Photogravure. 10 x 13 3/16” (25.4 x 33.5 cm). Gift of Georgia O’Keefe. © 2025 Estate of Alfred Stieglitz/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Ming Smith, David Murray in the Wings, Padova, Italy, 1978. Gelatin silver print (hand-painted). 19 1/2 x 12 5/8” (49.5 x 32 cm). Acquired through the generosity of the Vera Louise Fraser Estate. © 2025 Ming Smith.
Romare Bearden, The Dove, 1964. Gelatin silver print, printed 1971. 50 1/2 x 70 1/2” (128.3 x 179.1 cm). Gift of Marlene Hess and James D. Zirin. © Romare Bearden Foundation/VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
William Eggleston, Greenwood, Mississippi, c. 1972. Dye transfer print, printed 1986. 20 5/8 x 13 3/4” (52.5 x 35 cm). Acquired through the generosity of the John E. Galvin
Charitable Trust on behalf of the Crouse Family. © 2025 William Eggleston.
© Arthur Jafa, Courtesy of the artist, Gladstone Gallery and Sprüth Magers