This exhibition marks a historic gift of more than 170 works given to the Allen by Oberlin alumni Driek (OC 1965) and Michael (OC 1964) Zirinsky. Predating collection practices at most U.S. museums, the Zirinskys developed a globe-spanning collection of contemporary art with strengths in Asian American, Indigenous American, and Latin American art. They worked directly with artists, residency programs, and small galleries, ensuring that their purchases supported early-career artists.

Driek Zirinsky’s long-standing interest in “border crossings” is evident in artworks that uncover or re-imagine overlooked histories. The artists address hybrid identity and geopolitical conflict with strategies including humor, irony, music, ancestral stories, weaving, and threadwork.

Artists in the exhibition include Ghada Amer, Natalie Ball, Ambreen Butt, Raven Chacon, Enrique Chagoya, Mel Chin, Olafur Eliasson, Jeffrey Gibson, Jennie C. Jones, Roman Ondak, Jean Shin, Dayanita Singh, Stephanie Syjuco, Marie Watt, Wendy Red Star, and Dyani White Hawk.

This is one of several concurrent presentations of the Zirinsky collection throughout the museum.

Image: Stephanie Syjuco (Filipino-American, b. 1974), Green Ride, from the series Black Market, 2005. Fuji lightjet print. Gift of Driek (OC 1965) and Michael (OC 1964) Zirinsky, 2023.1.41