Vik Muniz opens Brushstrokes in New York
Published on 08/28/2026 at 15:57 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Vik Muniz puts painting back under the camera in New York. Sikkema Malloy Jenkins says Brushstrokes opened on May 14, 2026 and ran through June 20, 2026, with new works built from photographed brushstrokes.
Brushstrokes in New York
Sikkema Malloy Jenkins' exhibition page identifies the show as a solo presentation of new work and dates it from May 14 through June 20, 2026. The gallery also notes a public reception with the artist on May 14, 2026.
The series revisits art-historical painting through Muniz's signature method of reconstruction. Here, the unit is the brushstroke itself, photographed, cut out and arranged into new compositions.
The Rio retrospective
His larger 2026 profile is still anchored in Rio de Janeiro. ArtDaily reported on July 22, 2026 that Vik Muniz - With the Naked Eye at CCBB Rio spans more than 220 works from 43 series and includes new pieces made for the venue.
The exhibition page on the artist's own site also lists A Olho Nu at CCBB Rio from May 20 to September 7, 2026. That pairing of a gallery show in New York and a major institutional survey in Brazil frames the current moment of his practice.
More news and background on Vik Muniz
Explore reporting, exhibition coverage and background on the artist's image-based practice.
How Muniz builds images
Muniz works across photography, sculpture and installation, often by staging images from sugar, chocolate, wire, garbage or ash before photographing the result. His site describes the method as a way to make looking itself unstable and active.
The same bio places him in New York City and Rio de Janeiro and dates his birth to 1961 in Sao Paulo. It also names Pictures of Garbage, Verso, Brushstrokes and Museum of Ashes among the key bodies of work.
Where he stands now
Vik Muniz currently has no announced date in the 30-day window beyond the finished New York run and the running Rio retrospective.
Key facts on Vik Muniz
- Artist: Vik Muniz
- Medium / Genre: Photography, installation, sculpture
- Born: 1961, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Place(s) of practice: New York City and Rio de Janeiro
- Active since: 1988
- Key work groups: Pictures of Garbage, Verso, Brushstrokes, Museum of Ashes
- Current/last exhibition: Brushstrokes, Sikkema Malloy Jenkins, New York, May 14-June 20, 2026
- Major collections: Museum of Modern Art, New York; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; Tate, London; Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo
- Awards: UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, 2011
- Next date: currently no announced date in the 30-day window
Frequently asked questions about Vik Muniz
Where was Vik Muniz recently on view?
Brushstrokes was on view at Sikkema Malloy Jenkins in New York from May 14 through June 20, 2026. His retrospective A Olho Nu is also listed for CCBB Rio from May 20 to September 7, 2026.
What defines Vik Muniz's current work?
He reconstructs familiar images from unexpected materials, then photographs the result. The New York show centers on brushstrokes, while the Rio retrospective spans more than 220 works.
What collections hold Vik Muniz?
His bio lists MoMA, Tate, the Guggenheim, Centre Pompidou and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo. Those institutions anchor his market and museum standing.
This article was produced with a.i. support and editorially reviewed. All statements without guarantee; auction results, exhibition dates and awards may change at short notice.
