The Las Vegas Art Museum (LVAM) celebrates the arts in Las Vegas with the exhibition Las Vegas Diaspora: The Emergence of Contemporary Art from the Neon Homeland. The exhibition features artists who have been recognized for artistic achievement after earning degrees in studio art at UNLV (the University of Nevada, Las Vegas). Organized by Las Vegas critic and curator Dave Hickey, the exhibition will showcase a selection of artworks by 26 artists who work in a variety of media. All of the featured artists studied with Hickey between 1990 and 2001, when Hickey taught art theory and criticism in the Department of Art at UNLV. Hickey now serves in the English Department at UNLV as Schaeffer Professor of Modern Letters.

According to LVAM Director Libby Lumpkin, many of the artists included in the exhibition are highly accomplished: “The Museum of Modern Art in New York has acquired works by two of the artists for its permanent collection. Other Diaspora artists have had solo exhibitions at major museums, including the Tate Modern in London, the Los Angeles County Museum, Kemper Museum, UCLA’s Hammer Museum, and the Cue Foundation in New York. Most Diaspora artists exhibit their works in established galleries in New York or Los Angeles. Many show regularly in Paris, London, Cologne, Milan, Tokyo, and other international art centers.” Lumpkin adds, “Dave Hickey gave many of the artists their start by including them in exhibitions he organized around the country. He was the logical choice to organize the exhibition.”

The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog published by The Las Vegas Art Museum and BrightCity Books. The fully illustrated catalog features an essay by Dave Hickey, and individual artist entries.

The exhibition is made possible by LVAM’s Joyce Mack Exhibitions Fund and James and Michelle Zeiter Exhibitions Fund. Patron support is provided by Wally Goodman and Patrick Duffy, Robin and Danny Greenspun, Thomas and Bonnie Lawyer, Dana and Greg Lee - Eureka Casinos, Joyce Mack, Manpower of Southern Nevada, Inc., Blanche and Phil Meisel, Jim and Beverly Rogers, and Jim and Michelle Zeiter.