Devil/God is an expressionist art exhibition presenting paintings and sculpture by Australian artist Ben Quilty for his New York solo debut. The exhibition addresses masculinity, power, religion, climate collapse, colonial violence, and institutional authority through heavily impastoed works and distorted forms. Its central reference is Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1928 story When the World Screamed, in which Professor Challenger drills into Earth and triggers violent earthquakes. Cars recur throughout Quilty’s paintings as symbols of male aggression and pride, appearing with distorted proportions or replacing human heads. One oversized carburetor scoop becomes large enough to make its vehicle impossible to drive.
A carved Virgin Mary uses alternating layers of leather and plywood, referencing straps historically used to punish children in church schools. The construction connects the religious figure to institutional violence while retaining its recognizable form. Mutated bodies, slashing brushwork, and dense surfaces recur throughout the exhibition alongside more delicate elements.
Image Credit: Albertz Benda, hypebeast
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Confrontational Expressionism
- Visceral materials and distorted forms are creating space for galleries to frame social critique as immersive, emotionally charged cultural experiences.
- Symbolic Masculinity Critique
- Cars, machines, and exaggerated body imagery reveal openings for art-driven storytelling that interrogates aggression, status, and inherited power structures.
- Institutional Trauma Aesthetics
- Religious icons and punitive materials point to new curatorial models centered on memory, accountability, and the physical residue of authority.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Contemporary Art
- Provocative solo exhibitions are expanding market interest in artists who merge political commentary with highly tactile, collectible visual languages.
- Museums and Galleries
- Experiential presentations of difficult histories offer institutions fresh ways to attract audiences seeking cultural relevance and critical engagement.
- Luxury Collectibles
- Sculptural objects and symbol-heavy paintings suggest emerging demand for high-value works that combine craftsmanship, controversy, and narrative depth.
