Through October 19
The Met
For the 2025 Roof Garden Commission, acclaimed multimedia artist Jennie C. Jones has created Ensemble, her second outdoor sculptural installation. This intriguing project delves into the sonic and formal possibilities inherent in stringed instruments. By exploring these elements, Jones presents an innovative take on modernism, where the string in her sculptures becomes a metaphor for an unbroken and continuous line of art history.
Jones’s oeuvre spans paintings, sculptures, works on paper, installations, and audio compositions, all marked by a distinctive engagement with sound. Her practice challenges minimalism and modernism by integrating conceptual elements drawn from her deep immersion in Black improvisation and avant-garde music traditions. For instance, Jones affixes acoustic fiberglass panels to her canvases, transforming the way sound interacts with space. Her creations often include lines and bars reminiscent of musical notation, highlighting how sound and listening are integral to her artistic expression.
Through Ensemble, Jones reimagines minimalist abstraction, expanding its dialogue to include new perspectives and questioning the traditional creators behind the movement. This work continues to enrich the conversation about how sound, music, and cultural narratives influence contemporary art.
The exhibition is hosted at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 926 and remains on view through October 19. This immersive commission invites visitors to experience the fusion of sound, sculpture, and history within a unique outdoor setting.
Supported by significant patrons and facilitated by a thoughtfully produced catalogue, the exhibition stands as a testament to Jones’s innovative vision, inviting new ways of perceiving minimalism through the lens of sound.
