1996 - 1998
John Chamberlain, Mask of Persistence, 1996
1996
February-May 12, 1996: Takes part in the exhibition "Abstraction in the 20th Century: Total Risk. Freedom. Discipline." at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York (Dolores James, 1962).
May 1-June 21: Presents "John Chamberlain: Recent Sculpture" at PaceWildenstein, New York. The exhibition showcases twenty-two small-scale Baby Tycoons created between 1993 and 1996, along with eight medium-sized metal sculptures from 1995-96.
May 11-June 30: Features "John Chamberlain: Current Work and Fond Memories, Sculptures and Photographs 1967-1995" at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. This exhibition later travels to Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg in Germany from September 7 to November 17. On display are thirty-five sculptures, including six Gondolas, accompanied by a selection of Widelux photographs and the film "The Secret Life of Hernando Cortez" (1968).
May 20-September 1: Participates in "The Froehlich Foundation: German and American Art from Beuys and Warhol" at Tate Gallery, London. The exhibition travels to various locations, showcasing artworks like "Hillbilly Galoot" (1960), "Iron Stone" (1969), "Coke Ennyday" (1977), "Flavin Flats" (1977), "Gondola Jack Kerouac" (1982), "Endzoneboogie" (1988), and "Urban Garlic" (1994).
June 8 -July 13: Lunda Benglis, John Chamberlain, Rudolf Stingel, James Welling exhibit at Margo Leavin Gallery, Los Angeles, featuring Chamberlain's towering work "Mrs. Yif Nif" (1986) and smaller-scale pieces.
Acquires Winthrop House on Shelter Island with harbor views.
Fall: "John Chamberlain: Couches and Related Sculpture, 1967-1971" at A/D Gallery, New York.
October 26, 1996-January 12, 1997: Participates in "Masterworks of Modern Sculpture: The Nasher Collection" at the Palace of the Legion of Honor, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. The exhibition later moves to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York from February 6 to June 1, 1997, featuring works like "Zaar" (1959) and "Williamson Turn" (1974).
December 13, 1996-January 20, 1997: Presents "Simplicity/Complexity: Robert Ryman and John Chamberlain" at Kukje Gallery in Seoul.
John Chamberlain, Wiley’s Island, 1997
1997
January 16: John Chamberlain is awarded the Gold Medal Visual Arts Award from the National Arts Club in New York. He purchases land across from Winthrop House on Shelter Island and starts constructing a new studio, aiming for more large, well-planned projects.
April 17-May 24: Chamberlain's exhibition at Galerie Karsten Greve in Paris takes place.
April 20-June 8: "John Chamberlain: Abstract Sculptures" is exhibited at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton, California, showcasing works from 1989-94 including pieces like Lucky Youremein, Schizoverbia, and Silky Wilkie.
April 29-June 21: "Baby Tycoons," 1992-97, is presented at Galerie Daniel Blau in Munich.
June 25-August 17: Participates in the exhibition "Sechziger Jahre. Die neuen Abenteuer der Objekte" at Museum Ludwig in Cologne, featuring works like Exciter (also known as White Shadow), Che-Che, Trixie Dee, and Papagayo.
June 26-September 28: "Baby Tycoons: Skulpturen von John Chamberlain" takes place at the Museum für Lackkunst in Münster.
September 1997-October 1999: Heiner Friedrich's Ayn Foundation organizes a private exhibition titled "John Chamberlain: Sculpture 1976-1997" at 535 West Twenty-Second Street building, New York. The exhibition includes two foam sculptures created on-site in April 1997, couches, a nest, a tall piece with scaffolding, and a site-specific relief.
November 14, 1997-January 10, 1998: "John Chamberlain: Sculpture and Photographs" is displayed at PaceWildenstein in Los Angeles, featuring fourteen metal sculptures and twelve photographs.
November 19, 1997-January 10, 1998: "Joan Mitchell and John Chamberlain: A Juxtaposition" is exhibited at Cheim & Read in New York.
John Chamberlain, Opus 81, 1998
1998
March 11-April 25: "Fauve Landscape" exhibition takes place at PaceWildenstein, 142 Greene Street, New York. The exhibition features notable works such as "The Privet" (1997), a 13-foot-tall and 60-foot-long monumental piece, and "The Hedge" (1997), a horizontally arranged sixteen-part sculpture.
May 28-September 6: Participates in the exhibition "Direcção: Escultura/ Towards Sculpture" at Centro de Arte Moderna José de Azeredo Perdigão in Lisbon. The exhibition includes works like "American Star" (1978), "Subito Bobabza" (1989), four small-scale sculptures from 1989-91, nine photographs from 1989-91, three collages from 1993, and maquettes for large-scale sculptures.
September 10-October 31: Takes part in the exhibition "Dust Breeding: Photographs, Sculpture and Film" at Frankel Gallery in San Francisco.