Daniel Arsham. Photo courtesy of the artist and Perrotin.
Artist: Daniel Arsham
The Augustus Owen Salon Series is proud to present internationally acclaimed artist Daniel Arsham in conversation at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts on March 26, 2026. This special event will feature an in-depth discussion of Arsham’s artistic career and the release of his new book, Future Relic: Failures, Disasters, Detours, and How I Made a Career as an Artist. Moderated by Kevin Wong, Editor-in-Chief of Hypebeast Magazine, the conversation will explore the evolution of Arsham’s multidisciplinary practice—from his early work in performance and architecture to his globally recognized sculptures and major collaborations across art, fashion, and design.
Known for transforming contemporary cultural objects into imagined archaeological artifacts, Arsham challenges traditional notions of time, permanence, and materiality. His work has been exhibited internationally and has shaped dialogue at the intersection of contemporary art and popular culture. In Future Relic, Arsham offers a candid reflection on the unexpected detours and pivotal decisions that defined his path—providing invaluable insight for emerging artists and creative leaders. Presented as part of the Augustus Owen Foundation Salon Series, the event underscores a shared commitment with Booker T. to foster meaningful dialogue between established cultural figures and the next generation of artists. Students and guests will gain firsthand perspective on building a sustainable creative career, embracing experimentation, and navigating the complexities of the art world. The ticketed event will take place on at 7:00 pm on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the Montgomery Arts Theatre at Booker T. Washington HSPVA. It is open to students, faculty, and the public. A Q&A session and book signing will follow the moderated discussion.
Tickets and more information are available here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/danielarsham/event/danielarsham/
Daniel Arsham’s uchronic aesthetics revolve around his concept of fictional archaeology. Working in sculpture, architecture, drawing and film, he creates and crystallizes ambiguous in-between spaces or situations, and further stages what he refers to as future relics of the present. They are eroded casts of modern artifacts and contemporary human figures, which he expertly makes out of geological material such as sand, selenite or volcanic ash for them to appear as if they had just been unearthed after being buried for ages. Always iconic, most of the objects that he turns into stone refer to the late 20th century or millennial era, when technological obsolescence unprecedentedly accelerated along with the digital dematerialization of our world. While the present, the future and the past poetically collide in his haunted yet playful visions between romanticism and pop art, Daniel Arsham also experiments with the timelessness of certain symbols and gestures across cultures.
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