Anne Imhof, the German artist known for her provocative multimedia performances, is presenting new bronze relief sculptures at the TEFAF art fair (May 9–13) at New York's Park Avenue Armory, the same venue where her performance "DOOM: House of Hope" recently premiered. The works, which debuted in her 2024 exhibition "Wish You Were Gay" at Kunsthaus Bregenz, mark a shift from her signature tech-infused performances to sculptural forms inspired by ancient Greek friezes and Renaissance reliefs. Priced at €250,000 each, the bronzes depict intertwined nude figures, skulls, animals, and apocalyptic imagery, reflecting themes of love, death, and the afterlife.
This move matters because it showcases a major contemporary artist expanding her practice into a traditional medium at one of the world's leading art fairs, signaling the continued blurring of boundaries between performance and object-based art. Imhof's transition from the immersive, smartphone-driven spectacle of "DOOM" to handcrafted bronze reliefs also highlights the enduring market demand for tangible, collectible works from artists known for ephemeral experiences. The presentation at TEFAF, a fair that bridges Old Masters and contemporary art, positions Imhof's work within a broader art-historical dialogue, potentially attracting both performance art followers and traditional collectors.