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2010s
2010s

Throughout the 2010s, Barbara Kruger continued to explore and expand upon her distinctive style of art, marked by its direct engagement with issues of power, identity, consumerism, and autonomy. Kruger's work during this period remains instantly recognizable—characterized by bold text overlaying imagery in her signature red, black, and white color scheme, often challenging viewers with pithy and assertive messages. One of her notable works from this era is "The Globe Shrinks," a 4-screen video installation presented in 2010. This piece, shown in various locations including Sprüth Magers in Berlin and the Mary Boone Gallery in New York, captures the essence of Kruger's exploration into how global connectivity impacts social interactions and perceptions​ (Art21)​. In 2012, Kruger created "Belief + Doubt," a site-specific installation at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C. This expansive work covered the museum's lower lobby and bookstore, enveloping visitors in a sea of provocative questions and statements that explore the ambiguities of belief, doubt, and authority. The piece vividly exemplifies Kruger's continued interest in the power of language and imagery to challenge and question societal norms and personal convictions​ (Wikipedia)​. Kruger's work was also the subject of a major exhibition titled "Thinking of You. I Mean Me. I Mean You." at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in 2022. This retrospective spanned four decades of Kruger's career, showcasing a wide array of her work including single-channel videos from the 1980s, digital productions from the last two decades, large-scale vinyl room wraps, multichannel video installations, and audio soundscapes. The exhibition highlighted Kruger's role as both a consumer and critic of popular culture, demonstrating her keen observation of how imagery and language shape perception and identity in the digital age​ (LACMA)​. Kruger's artistic endeavors in the 2010s, through a variety of mediums and platforms, continued to engage deeply with themes of feminism, consumerism, and the fluidity of identity. Her work remains a critical lens through which to view the intersections of text, image, and ideology, marking her as a pivotal figure in contemporary art.

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