MoMA Opened New Photographic Exhibition
The show features seven contemporary artists responding to Marianne Wex's seminal body language research.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Performance Art
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Do you believe historical research on body language still offers insight into current public social issues?
The Museum of Modern Art has opened a new exhibition titled Taking Back Our Space: Photographic Perspectives. The show engages with Marianne Wex's 1970s research on body language through the work of seven contemporary artists.
Why it matters
The exhibition aims to explore how the politics of body language in public spaces have evolved over the last 50 years. It provides a platform to analyze intersectional perspectives regarding race, colonialism, sexuality, and self-representation.
The exhibition features works from seven contemporary artists, building on a research project Marianne Wex conducted in Hamburg five decades ago. The museum acquired the original project in 2018.
The players
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is a prominent New York City institution dedicated to the collection, preservation, and study of modern and contemporary art.
Marianne Wex
Marianne Wex was a German artist and photographer who lived from 1937 to 2020 and is best known for her extensive photographic study of gendered body language.
The details
The exhibition creates a dialogue between the archival photography of Marianne Wex and modern works that examine how individuals occupy space. Artists including Nona Faustine, Martine Gutierrez, and Joiri Minaya utilize photography to dissect complex social identities.
Timeline
Marianne Wex captured her original body language photographs in Hamburg between 1972 and 1977.
The Museum of Modern Art acquired the Wex photography project in 2018.
The exhibition opened at the Museum of Modern Art in September 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This exhibition reflects a broader trend in the art world to recontextualize historical archives through modern intersectional lenses. By pairing 1970s research with contemporary voices, the museum demonstrates a strategy of deepening archival value for modern audiences.
Visitors in New York City can view the exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art to observe how these diverse artists reinterpret historical photography. The show offers an opportunity to engage with current debates on self-representation and public space.
The takeaway
The show highlights how historical research remains a vital tool for contemporary artists to challenge established social norms. Readers can reflect on their own use of public space by observing how these photographers document the interaction between bodies and environments.
Further reading
For more information on current displays, visit the Performance Art section.
Live Poll
Do you believe historical research on body language still offers insight into current public social issues?
