James Rondeau President | Art Institute of Chicago
James Rondeau President | Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago will present "Pixy Liao: Relationship Material" from July 26 to December 8, 2025. This marks the first exhibition in Chicago for Pixy Liao and includes around 45 works. Many of these are part of her ongoing series, Experimental Relationship, which began in 2007. The series features humorous self-portraits created with her partner Takahiro Morooka.
Pixy Liao, originally from China, met Japanese artist and musician Takahiro Morooka in Memphis, Tennessee in 2006 when both were international students. Their partnership has since expanded beyond photography to include sculptures, videos, and a music group called PIMO.
“Playful and often funny, Pixy’s photographs create an arena in which she and Moro constantly redefine what it means to be a couple,” said Yechen Zhao, assistant curator of Photography and Media at the Art Institute of Chicago. “They prod at heteronormative conventions of power, desire, and care in relationships, challenging viewers to imagine new ways of living together.”
The exhibition showcases not only photographs but also sculptures and music videos that highlight the dynamics between Pixy and Moro. These works aim to explore themes such as fantasy, desire, and control within their artistic and romantic partnership.
Yechen Zhao curated the exhibition with support provided by the Black Dog Fund.
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