The third iteration of Aspen ArtWeek has arrived, and it’s packed with performances, exhibitions, talks, and, of course, parties. Aspen’s journey from a small mining town in the Rocky Mountains to veritable art world powerhouse is a curious one—which we explore in our debut edition of PALMER On the Road—and much of it is thanks to institutions like the Aspen Art Museum, who this year put on ArtWeek alongside Prada and Sotheby’s.

The week kicks off with a bang at an opening party August 1 on the Aspen Art Museum rooftop co-hosted by Prada, with beats by DJ Cardamami. The event will be open to both museum members and ArtCrush attendees, who will be able to view the works that will go up for auction later in the week. The following day, British artist Matt Copson will reveal a monumental installation, created with composer Oliver Leith. The site-specific, immersive environment installed in the Smuggler Mine is an audiovisual world that draws from the space’s architecture, both built and organic. An artists’ panel will also take place on the museum rooftop in conjunction with current exhibition A Lover’s Discourse. Participating artists Guglielmo Castelli, Chase Hall, Stanislava Kovalcikova, and Zeinab Saleh will join moderator and museum Curator-at-Large Stella Bottai in a discussion on the making of the exhibition. All artist talks throughout the week are free to attend with signup on the museum’s website.

 

Nairy Baghramian. Courtesy of BFA.
Jamie Tisch and Nicola Lees. Courtesy of BFA.
Chase Hall. Courtesy of BFA.
Oliver Leith and Matt Copson. Courtesy of BFA.
Dj Cardamami, Stella Bottai, and Daniel Merritt. Courtesy of BFA.

 

On August 3, singer-songwriter Alice Smith will perform an intimate set on the Aspen Art Museum’s rooftop, accompanied by pianist Dennis Hamm. Smith is lauded in contemporary art circles for her collaborations with artists like Isaac Julien and Khalil Joseph. Meanwhile, on the grounds of Aspen Meadows, Poncili Creación will stage a newly commissioned puppet performance, following major performances at MoMA PS1, Melbourne’s Rising Festival, and the Aspen Art Museum’s Youth Art Expo. The piece will explore survival in the natural world and competition for resources, all set to a live musical score. On the morning of August 4, honoree Nairy Baghramian will be joined in conversation by curator Hans Ulrich Obrist and museum director Nicola Lees.

 

Poncili Creación

 

The week culminates in the 18th annual ArtCrush Gala, co-chaired by Jamie Tisch and Sara Zilkha. In addition to a live fundraising auction presented by Sotheby’s—featuring works by Charles Gaines, Chase Hall, Carmen Herrera, Haas Brothers, Peter Halley, Spencer Lewis, Liza Lou, Howardena Pindell, and Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe—Baghramian will be presented with the Aspen Award for Art, which is given to artists who have made notable contributions to the global conversation on contemporary art. A major solo exhibition of the Iranian-German artist’s work, Jupon de Corps, is currently on view at the museum.

 

"Untitled (Touch)," 2021, by Naotaka Hiro. Image courtesy of the artist Herald Street and Bortolami.
"Coude à Coude," 2019, by Nairy Baghramian. Image courtesy of the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery. Photo by Nick Ash.
"Tesseract #6," 2023, by Howardena Pindell. Image courtesy of the artist and Garth Greenan Gallery, New York.
"Run DMC Street Pot," 2023, by Roberto Lugo. Photograph by Tiffany Smith, courtesy of R & Company.
"I'm Sad 2," 2023, by Alex Kerr. Image courtesy of the artist and New Low .
"Camino Negro," 2017, by Carmen Herrera. Image courtesy of the Estate of Carmen Herrera and Lisson Gallery.
"Fossil Psychic_for Christa (Stucco Marmo)," 2020, by Kerstin Bratsch. © Kerstin Bratsch, Courtesy of the artist and Gladstone Gallery, Photography by Daniele Molajoli.
"Two Horses, Box Canyon," 2023, by Lily Stockman. Image courtesy of the artist and Charles Moffett Gallery.
"Atlantic (Octavia)," 2022, by Todd Gray. Photo courtesy of Todd Gray.

 

In addition, Sotheby’s will also host an online auction, running through August 5, featuring works by Korakrit Arunanondchai, Ross Bleckner, Kerstin Bratsch, Rochelle Feinstein, Todd Gray, Naotaka Hiro, Alex Kerr, Antonia Kuo, Che Lovelace, Eva LeWitt, Roberto Lugo, JJ Manford, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Cauleen Smith, and Lily Stockman.

The full auction exhibition is on view at the museum through August 3 leading up to the Gala, with all works donated by artists and galleries in support of the museum’s artistic and educational programs. Lots range in value from under $3,000 to over $500,000.