Curating
The Imagery of Chess Revisited
Exhibition of 100 works by 32 modern artists re-staging an important lost chapter of Surrealist history at Julien Levy Gallery. The exhibition included a 210 page book, hosted a collegiate design contest, symposia, blindfold chess event, and children’s chess tournament. A chess, Surrealist music, and movie series premiered a surprise – a musical composition “Chess Pieces” by John Cage discovered by List during his research. Recorded as a CD and DVD by MODE Records, it was deemed “the most important discovery in Cage scholarship since the composer’s death,” according to Margaret Leng Tan, one of the foremost performers of Cage’s work.
Noguchi Museum, New York. 2005 –2006. The Menil Collection, Houston, Texas. 2006 –2007.
Skaklist: 32 Pieces, The Art of Chess
Survey exhibition of significant contemporary chess-related art by Mauricio Cattelan, Jake & Dino Chapman, Oliver Clegg, Tracey Emin, Tom Friedman, Paul Fryer, Damien Hirst, Barbara Kruger, Yayoi Kusama, Alistair Mackie, Paul McCarthy, Matthew Ronay, Tunga, Gavin Turk, Rachel Whiteread, and others. Illustrated 140 page catalogue with a major essay by List in English, Icelandic and Czech translations. Events included panel discussions, visitor chess matches and artist interviews.
Reykjavik Art Museum, Iceland. 2009. DOX Center for Contemporary Art, Prague, Czech Republic. 2010
With Mark Sanders & Julia Royse.
Xanti Schawinsky: Beyond the Bauhaus, Faces of War
Thematic portrait series and photographs by Bauhaus/Black Mountain College polymath not shown since 1940’s. Illustrated downloadable color e-essay co-written with Anke Kempkes.
Broadway 1602 Gallery, New York. 2010.
With Anke Kempkes
The Aviator (Faces of War). 1942. Watercolor and black pen on paper, 28 7/8 x 21 in. Copyright and courtesy of The Estate of Xanti Schawinsky. Switzerland
The Warrior (Faces of War). 1942. Watercolor and black pen on paper, 29 x 21 3/8 inches Copyright and courtesy of The Estate of Xanti Schawinsky, Switzerland.
Man Ray & Sherrie Levine: A Dialogue Through Objects, Images & Ideas
Exhibition of 80 Dada/Surrealist Man Ray and Appropriation artist Sherrie Levine photographs, paintings, drawings and sculptures which reveal the two artists’ shared interests and influences. 50 page color catalogue with an introduction by Marion Meyer, President of the International Man Ray Association and major essay by List.
Maruani Mercier Gallery. Brussels and Knokke, Belgium. 2015.
Sherrie Levine. Cadeau. 2006. Polished bronze. 6 x 4 ¼ x 3 ½ in.; 5 ½ x 4 ¾ x 2 in.
Man Ray. Le Cadeau/The Gift. 1921- 1970. Patinated bronze. 6 ¾ x 4 x 4 in.
SKIN TRADE
Exhibition exploring the use skin as a subject or metaphor in art including Liu Bolin, Nancy Burson, Adele Crawford, Nancy Davidson, Margi Geerlinks, Kathy Grove, Heidi Hatry, Stephen Irwin, Elana Katz, Suzi Lake, Lynn Hershman Leeson, Robert Maplethorpe, Katy Martin, Beverly McIver, Ana Mendieta, Marilyn Minter, Lorraine O’Grady, Orlan, Hunter Reynolds, Bonnie Rychlak, Alison Saar, Joan Semmel, Jeanne Silverthorne, Betty Tompkins, Veruschka Lehndorff & Holger Trulzsch, Robin Williams, Martha Wilson, Dolores Zorreguieta and Barbara Zucker. All contemporary artists working in painting, sculpture, photography, video and performance. Illustrated 55 page color catalog with Foreword by Wilson, essay by List.
P.P.O.W., New York. 2013. https://www.ppowgallery.com/exhibitions/skin-trade-an-in-depth-look-at-the-surface-of-things#tab:slideshow
with Martha Wilson, Director, Franklin Furnace
Cage & Kaino: Pieces and Performances
Exhibition of chess-related artworks and artifacts of 20th-century composer John Cage and contemporary multimedia Japanese-American artist Glenn Kaino accompanied by rare live presentations of Cage’s “Reunion” and Kaino’s “Burning Boards” performance works. Illustrated color brochure with essay and brochures for each performance.
World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries. Saint Louis, Missouri. 2014.
https://worldchesshof.org/program/2014-05-08-cage-kaino-pieces-and-performances/
Chess Masterpieces: Highlights from the Dr. George & Vivian Dean Collection
When a chess museum, the World Chess Hall of Fame, was established In Saint Louis in 2011, List was invited to curate an inaugural show of historical Chess Masterpieces: Highlights from the Dr. George & Vivian Dean Collection. Inaugural exhibition of 30 exceptional chess sets and chess–related art from 700 C.E. - 1924. Illustrated color 10 page brochure with essay and checklist.
World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries. Saint Louis, Missouri. 2011 –2012
https://worldchesshof.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/dean-brochure.pdf
Animal Vegetable Mineral: Natural Splendors from the Dr. George & Vivian Dean Chess Collection
Inspired by the work of Carl Linnaeus and Denis Diderot, the 5th anniversary exhibition of 36 exceptional chess sets and chess–related art from 16th c. to 20th c. accompanied by the raw materials they were made from, natural specimens they were modeled after and artisans’ tools with which they were made. Illustrated color brochure with essay and checklist.
World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries. Saint Louis, Missouri. 2016 –2017.
While working primarily as a studio artist in 1983 - 1984, List curated a series of three interrelated exhibitions:
Annexed Text
An exhibition of visual art made by Sharon Gilbert, Charles Lenoir, Larry List, Nancy Spero, Richard Torchia, and Larry Walczak from other people's texts at P.S. 122, New York. 1983.
Appropriation, Duplication, Manipulation
A 12 artist exhibition of early Xerox copier and pre-personal computer digital art at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 1983.
Found Language
A 20 artist exhibition and performances of writings, paintings, sculpture, music, video & choreography based on language from other sources. The show included Chris Bratton, David Byrne, Jane Comfort & Dancers, Bruce Connor, Brian Eno, Grandmaster Flash, Sharon Gilbert, Marsha Ginsberg, Perry Hoberman, Ken Juon, Charles Lenoir, Jerry Lindahl, Barry Ledoux, William Pope L, Greg Sholette, Jeanne Silverthorne, Buzz Spector, James Theobald, Larry Walczak, Jack Waters Dance Company, and David Wojnarowicz, at Franklin Furnace Archive, New York. 1984.
Digital Domains: Kathy Grove(Art) History, Phoebe Adams(Natural) Science, David Powell(Pop) Culture
With a brochure essay about the three very different directions these Artists have taken in their digital artwork.
Bluseed Studios Artists’ Program. Saranac Lake, New York. 2004.
