Louis Zoellar Bickett celebration opens at UK Art Museum

The University of Kentucky Art Museum launches an autumn celebration of Lexington artist Louis Zoellar Bickett starting Friday with the opening of its exhibit, “Louis Zoellar Bickett: Saving Myself.”

The exhibit brings together many of the items that Bickett has collected over the years to create “The Archive,” which includes photographs, books, toys, furniture and even bodily fluids that Bickett has catalogued.

“Bickett’s methodology asserts that there is no separation between being in the world and making art, and, in this regard, his years spent working as a waiter, reading canonical literature, photographing political and cultural events, traveling, and maintaining friendships are all bound up with each other,” a statement from the Art Museum says.

The exhibit will open with a member’s reception Friday night and will open to the public Saturday. After that, there will be four more exhibits from Lexington institutions made up of Bickett’s work:

▪  21c Museum Hotel, 167 West Main Street: “What You Don’t Surrender The World Strips Away,” Sept. 9 to Apr. 15.

▪  Institute 193, 193 North Limestone: “Selections from the Art Collection,” Oct. 27 to Nov. 26.

▪  Lexington Art League, 209 Castlewood Drive: “All We Ever Wanted,” Oct. 28 to Nov. 27.

▪  UK Chandler Hospital Dining Pavilion, 800 Rose Street: “The Kentucky Dirt Project: 120 Counties” (permanent installation).

In addition to the local recognition, Bickett was recently featured in an Oxford American story by Atlanta writer Laura Relyea and Lexington photographer Guy Mendes.

This story was originally published August 25, 2016 at 8:03 AM with the headline "Louis Zoellar Bickett celebration opens at UK Art Museum."