Introduction
The DeCordova New England Biennial is a significant showcase of contemporary art that highlights the most compelling and innovative work being made by artists across the six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont). Hosted by the DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, Massachusetts, the biennial presents a carefully curated selection that reflects the region's diverse artistic practices, cultural influences, and creative communities.
Established in its current format in 2010 (evolving from the previous DeCordova Annual Exhibition), the biennial serves as a vital platform for both emerging talents and established artists with strong connections to New England. Through a rigorous selection process involving studio visits and collaboration with regional curators, the exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of contemporary art in the region while fostering dialogue about current artistic trends, themes, and approaches that resonate both locally and nationally.
Narrative & Themes
Each edition of the DeCordova Biennial explores different thematic concerns and aesthetic approaches that reflect current artistic dialogues within New England and beyond. Recent biennials have investigated themes such as ecological awareness, social justice, cultural identity, memory and history, and the relationship between technology and traditional craft practices. While not imposing strict thematic frameworks, the curatorial approach identifies meaningful connections and conversations among the selected works.
The biennial emphasizes the rich diversity of artistic expression in New England, showcasing work across various media including painting, sculpture, photography, video, performance, textiles, digital art, and interdisciplinary practices. This breadth highlights the region's artistic vitality while challenging traditional perceptions of "New England art" that might focus primarily on landscape traditions or craft-based approaches.
The exhibition's setting at the DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum—with its integration of indoor gallery spaces and outdoor sculpture park—creates a unique context for experiencing the work. Many artists create site-specific installations or works that respond to the museum's architectural features or natural landscape, establishing a distinctive dialogue between art, architecture, and environment that characterizes the biennial experience.
History & Context
The DeCordova New England Biennial evolved from the museum's earlier Annual Exhibition series, which began in 1989 and focused on artists from Massachusetts. In 2010, recognizing the interconnected nature of New England's art communities and seeking to create a more comprehensive regional survey, the museum expanded the exhibition's scope to include all six New England states and adopted a biennial format to allow for more in-depth research and presentation.
This transition reflected broader shifts in the DeCordova's institutional mission and the changing landscape of contemporary art in New England. The biennial format enabled the museum to develop a more substantial platform for regional artists while positioning the exhibition within the international context of biennials as significant surveys of contemporary art.
DeCordova Annual Exhibition series begins, focusing on Massachusetts artists
First DeCordova Biennial launched, expanding to include all New England states
Biennial introduces site-specific commissions and enhanced public programming
Exhibition expands to include more video works and performance art
Biennial coincides with DeCordova joining the Trustees of Reservations
Post-pandemic edition emphasizes themes of resilience and community
Exhibition Venue
The DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum serves as the primary venue for the biennial, utilizing both its indoor galleries and its expansive 30-acre sculpture park. The museum's modernist architecture provides versatile exhibition spaces for various media, while the surrounding landscape offers opportunities for site-specific installations and sculptural works that engage with the natural environment.
In 2019, the DeCordova became part of The Trustees of Reservations, New England's largest conservation and preservation organization. This alliance has expanded the museum's resources and reach while reinforcing its commitment to the intersection of art, nature, and public engagement that characterizes the biennial.
Sculpture Park Integration
A distinctive feature of the DeCordova Biennial is the integration of contemporary works within the museum's renowned Sculpture Park. Many biennial artists create site-specific outdoor installations that respond to the park's rolling hills, woodlands, and existing sculptural collection, creating a dynamic dialogue between art and landscape that visitors can experience throughout the seasons.
Featured Artists
The DeCordova New England Biennial typically showcases between 20-25 artists representing diverse approaches, backgrounds, and career stages. Selected through an extensive research process involving hundreds of studio visits across the six New England states, the participating artists reflect the region's rich artistic ecosystem and its connections to national and international art conversations.
Selection Process
Combines curatorial research, nominations, and studio visits
Regional Representation
Artists from all six New England states
Career Stages
Mix of emerging and established artists
Public Programs
Artist talks, performances, and workshops
Exhibition Gallery
Location
The DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is located in Lincoln, Massachusetts, approximately 20 miles west of Boston. The 30-acre campus combines indoor gallery spaces with an extensive outdoor sculpture park.
