A Friend Named Cousin

Presented by Joe Freshgoods

New York, NY

October 30-November 7

What does chosen family mean in a city like New York? Here, these communities have long been the engine behind cultural movements, from the salons of the Harlem Renaissance to the downtown art scene of the 1980s and the hip-hop collectives of the 1990s, and creatives shaping the city today.

A Friend Named Cousin, an art exhibition curated by Joe Freshgoods, explores familial connections that transcend blood relations and the intricacies of cultivating chosen family and community through the lens of today’s artists. While the notion of the traditional family is rooted in biological relationships, familial connections can take the form of profound friendships forged through love, support, shared experiences, and mutual commitment. These artworks celebrate the importance of familial connections distinguished by choice, the construction of chosen families and communities, and the diversity that spans cultures, countries, and generations.