UK Art Museum to Host Significant Book Launch Celebrating Acclaimed Poet-Critic John Yau’s Latest Publication

UK Art Museum Proudly Hosts Prominent Book Launch

LEXINGTON, Ky., April 4, 2024 – The esteemed University of Kentucky Art Museum has announced it will open its doors for a significant book launch, celebrating the newest publication, ‘Disguise the Limit: John Yau’s Collaborations’. The event will unfold between 5:30-7 p.m., on Thursday, April 11.

Acclaimed Poet-Critic John Yau Graces The Event

Acclaimed poet-critic John Yau will make an appearance, signing copies of his much-anticipated book. The event will also incorporate a concise program that puts the exhibition and publication into context. Yau’s latest publication elucidates his rich and varied artistic collaborations spanning five decades, currently on display at the UK Art Museum.

Details of The Book, ‘Disguise The Limit’

This 148-page softcover book, published in full colour, encapsulates the essence of Yau’s varied collaborations with an international and intergenerational group of artists. It boasts images of the paintings, drawings, prints, and unique publications that Yau has produced with his artistic partners. The book champions a collection of informatics, including a timeline by Yau and engaging essays by Stuart Horodner, Barry Schwabsky, and Sharon Mesmer.

Museum Director Sheds Light on the Exhibition and Launch

Stuart Horodner, the museum director and curator of the exhibition cheered, “This book launch is a special moment to celebrate Yau and his generous cultivation of collaboration with artists. Exhibitions have limited runs, but books can be savored and shared for decades to come. We are proud and happy to have produced this publication, which advances our mission to provide meaningful art experiences on the UK campus and beyond.”

Behind the Scenes Support

The exhibition and publication are realised through a generous grant from the Terra Foundation for American Art, with further backing from the Albisetti Exhibition Fund. The Gaines Center for the Humanities has also supported the book launch.

Yau’s Extensive Collaborative Works on Display

This exhibition marks the first review of the diverse collaborative works that Yau has created with a spectrum of visual artists over the past five decades. The repertoire includes paintings, mixed media works on paper, print portfolios, artist books, and letterpress broadsides. An integral part of John Yau’s poetry is his examination of his Chinese American identity, visual art, and film, detective novels, and popular culture. His reviews and essays are lauded for their innovative perspectives on established artists and for running parallel to the traditions and contexts in history. Resulting from shared sensibilities and camaraderie, Yau’s collaborations exhibit his embrace of both representation and abstraction.

Contact Information

For further information, please reach out to: Kristi Willett at kristi.willett@uky.edu or call 859-323-6363