Hilary Harkness, 2024
Photo by Grace Roselli, Pandora's BoxX Project
In her meticulously rendered small-scale paintings, Hilary Harkness (b. 1971) fuses traditional techniques with a distinctly contemporary sensibility to explore power struggles inherent in sex, race, and class systems on an uncensored stage. Working in episodic series that take years to complete, Harkness wields unparalleled skill and imagination to elevate the stories and intersectional experiences of women, people of color, and LGBTQIA+ people. Harkness earned her BA from UC Berkeley and her MFA from Yale University. Her work has been featured in exhibitions at FLAG Art Foundation, New York, NY; Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, Spain; American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York, NY; Portland Institute of Contemporary Art, Portland, OR; and Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield, CT; among others. Her work is in the permanent collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY; Yuz Museum Shanghai, China; Mead Art Museum, Amherst, MA; and the Seavest Collection, New York, NY; among others. In 2017, she received the Henry Clews Award and participated in the inaugural Master Residency Program at the Château de La Napoule, France. She has lectured widely at leading academic and cultural institutions. In 2014, she co-curated Roy Lichtenstein: Nudes and Interiors at FLAG Art Foundation. Harkness’s first solo exhibition with the gallery, Prisoners from the Front, was on display in Fall 2023. In 2024, Black Dog Press and P·P·O·W co-published Hilary Harkness: Everything for You, the first comprehensive monograph on the artist’s work, featuring new texts by Lynn Tillman, Dr. Ashley Jackson, as well as an interview with American painter Ivy Haldeman. Harkness's work is currently featured in the group exhibition Matisse's Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA.
Hilary Harkness
b. 1971, Detroit, MI
Lives and works in Brooklyn, NY
Education
1996
MFA, Yale University, New Haven, CT
1993
BA, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Solo Exhibitions
2023
Prisoners from the Front, P·P·O·W, New York, NY
2013
The FLAG Art Foundation, New York, NY
2011
Mary Boone Gallery, New York, NY
2008
Mary Boone Gallery, New York, NY
2005
Mary Boone Gallery, New York, NY
2004
Mary Boone Gallery, New York, NY
2002
Daniel Weinberg Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2001
Bill Maynes Gallery, New York, NY
Select Group Exhibitions
2026
Matisse's Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA
2025
Hard Art: Unruly Selections from the Beth Rudin DeWoody Collection, Museum of Sex, Miami, FL
2024
I’ll be Your Mirror — Reflections of the Contemporary Queer, curated by Patrick Burton, Mighty Real / Queer Detroit, Detroit, MI
2023
Framing the Female Gaze: Women Artists and the New Historicism, Lehman College Art Gallery, New York, NY
Saints and Sinners, Guts Gallery, Hackney, UK
In New York, Thinking of You (Part I), Flag Art Foundation, New York, NY
2021
and I will wear you in my heart of heart, The FLAG Art Foundation, New York, NY
2019
GARDEN, Sargent’s Daughters, New York, NY
The Pleasure Principle, Maccarone, Los Angeles, CA
Drawn Together Again, FLAG Art Foundation, New York, NY
Please Step on the Grass, Right Behind the New Museum, New York, NY
2018
Electric Palace, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY
2017
Piss and Vinegar: Two Generations of Provocateurs, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY
Female/Feminist/2017, Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, Old Lyme, CT
2016
Her Crowd, Bruce Museum, Greenwich, CT
2015
Disturbing Innocence, curated by Eric Fischl, FLAG Art Foundation, New York, NY
2012
Figured Spaces, Schmidt Center Gallery at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
2011
Heroines, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, Spain
Art2, FLAG Art Foundation, New York, NY
2010
The Rise & Fall of Excess Culture, Stux Gallery, New York, NY
2009
Invitational Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture, American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York, NY
A Tribute to Ron Warren, Mary Boone Gallery, New York, NY
2007
Old School, Hauser & Wirth Colnaghi, London, England
Old School, Zwirner & Wirth, New York, NY
Pleasures of Collecting, Part III: Contemporary and Cutting Edge, Bruce Museum, Greenwich, CT
2006
Men, curated by Ellen Altfest, I-20 Gallery, New York, NY
2004
Endless Love, DC Moore Gallery, New York, NY
2003
American Art Today: Faces and Figures, Art Museum of Florida International University, Miami, FL
OnLine, Feigen Contemporary, New York, NY
Future Noir, Grossman Gallery, Lafayette College, Easton, PA
Unforeseen, Portland Institute of Contemporary Art, Portland, OR
2002
Dangerous Beauty, The Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, New York, NY
Into the Woods, Julie Saul Gallery, New York, NY
Invitational Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture, American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York, NY
Fusion Cuisine, Deste Foundation, Athens, Greece
2001
Wonderland, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA
Pixerina Witcherina, University Galleries, Illinois State University, Normal, IL
Heroine, Dee/Glasoe Gallery, New York, NY
Best of the Season, The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield, CT
View Five: Westworld, Mary Boone Gallery, New York, NY
2000
Timothy B. Buckwalter, Hilary Harkness, Jerry W. King, Lizabeth Oliveria Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1999
Shiny!, Southern Exposure Gallery, San Francisco, CA
25/25, Southern Exposure Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1998
Nothing but Time, Southern Exposure Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Select Bibliography
2026
Phaidon Editors. Vitamin P4: New Perspectives in Painting. Phaidon, New York, NY, 2026. Illus. pp. 116-17.
2024
Gemma Rolls-Bentley. Queer Art, From Canvas to Club, and the Spaces Between. Frances Lincoln, London, UK. 2024. Illus. pp. 26.
Hilary Harkness – Everything For You. Black Dog Press, London, UK. 2024.
2019
Van Straatn, Laura. “Paint Like a French Girl,” TOWN AND COUNTRY, Summer 2019.
2017
Wylde, Kaitlin. “7 Contemporary Artists Keeping Traditions Alive,” NYLON, March 2017.
Van Straaten, Laura. “A Generational Battle of Subversive Wit at Tribeca’s ‘Piss and Vinegar’,” ARTNET NEWS, January 2017.
2015
Galenson, David. “Inside New York's Art World: An Interview with Hilary Harkness,” HUFFINGTON POST, February 2015.
2014
Merriam, Mary. “Subverting the ‘Girlie’ Calendar: December,” MS. MAGAZINE BLOG, December 2014.
2013
Johns, Merryn. “Bold Strokes: An Out Lesbian Enjoys Acclaim and Controversy,” CURVE MAGAZINE, October 2013.
MacAdam, Alfred. “Hilary Harkness at FLAG Art Foundation,” ARTnews, Summer 2013.
Cohen, David. “Relentless Yet Dispassionate: Hilary Harkness at The FLAG Art Foundation,” ARTCRITICAL, May 2013.
Halperin, Julia. “24 Questions for Painter of Lady-Filled Microcosms Hilary Harkness,” BOUIN ARTINFO, March 2013.
Brune, Adrian Margaret. “Hilary Harkness: Painting Arrested Ambiguity at FLAG Art Foundation,” HUFFINGTON POST, February 2013.
Russeth, Andrew. “If Memory Serves...: Hilary Harkness on Her Paintings, at the Andaz Hotel,” GLALLERISTNY, February 2013.
2012
Galenson, David. “’The Core of Painting Is Story’: Interview with Hilary Harkness,” HUFFINGTON POST, January 2012.
Golfarb, Maximillian and Matt Bua. “Architectural Inventions: Visionary Drawing of Buildings,” 2012.
2011
Heti, Sheila. “The Process, THE BELIEVER MAGAZINE,” Sept. 2011, page 32-33.
“‘JM’, Hilary Harkness: Artist to Watch,” THE ART ECONOMIST, Volume 1 issue 3, 2011.
2010
Wei, Lilly. “The Great American (Male) Nude,” ARTnews, December 2010.
2008
Staff. “Figurative Women We Love: The Sailors in Hilary Harness's Paintings,” ESQUIRE, November 2008, p. 120.
Sexton, Elaine. “Hilary Harkness/Mary Boone,” ART IN AMERICA, Sept. 2008, pp. 155-156.
Honigman, Ana Finel. “HMS Dystopia: All the real, mean girls,” ANOTHER MAGAZINE, Spring/Summer 2008 p. 138.
Levin, Kim. “Hilary Harkness,” ARTNEWS, Summer 2008, pp. 166-167.
Cohen, David. “In Defense of Painting,” THE NEW YORK SUN, 15 May 2008, pp. 17, 26.
Min, Byongkyo. “Preview: Hilary Harkness,” ARTRADE (Korea), May 2008, pp. 4-5.
Staff. “Spring Art Picks: Hilary Harkness,” THE VILLAGE VOICE, 5 March 2008, p. 103.
2007
Mac Adam, Alfred. “Old School,” ART NEWS September 2007, pp 155-156.
Fujimori, Manami. “Hilary Harkness at the Metropolitan Museum,” MADAME FIGARO (Japan), 20 September 2007, p. 194-195.
Auricchio, Laura. “Old School,” TIME OUT NEW YORK, 23 August 2007, p.60.
Cotter, Holland. “Old School,” THE NEW YORK TIMES, 10 August 2007.
Goodrich, John. “Gallery-Going: Traditions & Their Uses,” THE NEW YORK SUN, 12 July 2007.
2006
Finkel, Jori. “Tales from the Crit: For Art Students, May is the Cruelest Month,” THE NEW YORK TIMES, 30 April 2006, p. AR34.
2005
Baker, R.C. “Catching enigmas in a bottle: Girls gone wild in hot oil,” THE VILLAGE VOICE, 18 May 2005, p. 83.
Gardner, James. “Art Attack: Hilary Harkness,” THE NEW YORK POST, 14 May 2005, p. 29.
Cohen, David. “Gallery-Going: Hilary Harkness,” THE NEW YORK SUN, 12 May 2005, p. 15.
Baker, R.C. “Voices Choices: Hilary Harkness,” THE VILLAGE VOICE, 11 May 2005, p. 43.
Kino, Carol. “Trendy Artists Pick up an Old-Fashioned Habit,” THE NEW YORK TIMES, 17 April 2005, pp. AR1, AR26.
Honigman, Ana Finel. “Emerging Artists: Sex and Power, Hilary Harkness's Violent Femmes,” MODERN PAINTERS, February 2005, pp. 54-55.
2004
Ichihara, Kentaro. “Hilary Harkness: Poems of War and Industrial Fetishism,” COMPOSITE (Tokyo), October 2004, pp. 110-115.
Valdez, Sarah. “Hilary Harkness at Mary Boone,” ART IN AMERICA, October 2004, pp. 157-158.
Kerr, Merrily. “Hilary Harkness,” TIME OUT NEW YORK, 24 June 2004, p. 69.
Cohen, David. “Gallery-Going: Hilary Harkness,” THE NEW YORK SUN, 10 June 2004, p. 17.
Levin, Kim. “Voice Choices: Hilary Harkness,” THE VILLAGE VOICE, 2 June 2004, p. 45.
Honigman, Ana Finel. “Hilary Harkness,” MODERN PAINTERS, June 2004, pp.130-131.
Wakefield, Neville. “Hilary Harkness,” INTERVIEW, June 2004, p. 30.
Reed, John. “Sailing Forth from Lesbos,” GAY CITY NEWS, June 23, 2004.
Moyer, Carrie. “A Bow to Female S/M,” GAY CITY NEWS, June 9, 2004.
Staff. “Hilary Harkness,” THE NEW YORKER, 31 May 2004, p.14.
2003
Donohoe, Victoria. “Exhibit Broadens Range of Sci-Fi Art,” THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 13 July 2003.
Johnson, Ken. “OnLine,” THE NEW YORK TIMES, 13 June 2003.
Honigman, Ana Finel. “Fulsome Chattiness/Biting Cattiness: Satire After William Hogarth,” ZING MAGAZINE, January 2003. pp. 49-64.
2002
Staff. “Art in Review,” THE NEW YORKER, 19 August 2002.
2001
Johnson, Ken. “Westworld,” THE NEW YORK TIMES, 14 December 2001. p. E41.
Dougherty, Cecilia. “Temporary Headquarters,” NEST, December 2001, pp.162 - 171.
Amy, Michael. “Hilary Harkness at Bill Maynes,” ART IN AMERICA, November 2001, p. 151.
MacAdam, Barbara A. “On the Edge: Breugel of the Seaside Brothels,” ARTnews, November 2001, p. 192.
Huntington, Richard. “A Stroll Through the Chelsea District Proves to Be No Walk in the Park,” THE BUFFALO EVENING NEWS, 27 May 2001.
Saltz, Jerry. “Woman Overboard,” THE VILLAGE VOICE, 8 May 2001, p. 65.
Hunt, David. “Do Not Disturb,” SMOCK, May 2001, pp. 108 - 113.
Johnson, Ken. “Hilary Harkness/Mary Carlson,” THE NEW YORK TIMES, 27 April 2001, p. E31.
Temin, Christine. “Imagination Runs Wild in Wonderland,” THE BOSTON GLOBE, 30 January 2001.
Sherman, Mary. “MCA Creates a Wonderland,” BOSTON SUNDAY HERALD, 28 January 2001.
1998
Freedman, Marcy. “Making the Cut,” SAN FRANCISCO WEEKLY, 9 December 1998.
Select Public Collections
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
Mead Art Museum, Amherst, MA
Beth Rudin DeWoody Collection, West Palm, FL
The Seavest Collection, New York, NY
Hilary Harkness
Before, 2021
oil on aluminum
24 x 36 ins.
61 x 91.4 cm
Hilary Harkness
Heaven, 2020
oil on fiberglass composite panel
21 x 16 ins.
53.3 x 40.6 cm
Hilary Harkness
Arabella and the General, 2020
oil on linen mounted on panel
10 x 8 ins.
25.4 x 20.3 cm
Hilary Harkness
Prisoners from the Front (1866), commissioned by Arabella Freeman, 2019
oil on panel
12 x 19 ins.
30.5 x 48.3 cm
Hilary Harkness
Blue Nude with Blonde, 2014
oil on panel
11 5/8 x 8 5/8 ins.
29.5 x 21.9 cm
Hilary Harkness
Deep Roll Dive, 2002
oil on panel
27 x 36 ins.
68.6 x 91.4 cm
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