Cem A. is an artist and curator with a background in anthropology. He is known for running the art meme page @freeze_magazine. Since its inception in 2019, @freeze_magazine has become a tool for creative collaborations between Cem and fellow artists, researchers and organisations. His memes explore topics such as survival and alienation in the art world, often through a hyper-reflexive lens.
His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Art Newspaper and Monopol Magazin. Selected exhibitions include documenta fifteen, Kassel (2022) and solo exhibitions Hope You See Me as a Friend at Barbican Centre, London (2022) and The Party at Weserhalle, Berlin (2021). He has held lectures at Universität der Künste, Berlin; Royal College of Art; Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Central Saint Martins; and Barbican Centre, London.
The Art Newspaper, May 2022 (Link)
Kunstforum, Issue 279, January 2022 (Link)
The New York Times, March 2021 (Link)
Selected Exhibitions
2022
documenta fifteen, Kassel (Group exhibition)
Hope You See Me as a Friend, Barbican Centre, London (Solo exhibition) (Link)
Il Gazzettino, curated by Lukas Feireiss, Venice (Group exhibition)
2021
The Party, Weserhalle, Berlin (Solo exhibition) (Link)
IV. Peligros de la Amistad, CPU, Palacio Barolo, Buenos Aires, April 2021 (Group exhibition) (Link)
2020
Memennial 2020, Seattle; Dallas, December 2020 (Group exhibition) (Link)
Lectures / Workshops
2022
Lecture, Axis Graduate Programme, Wakefield
Lecture / Workshop, University of Stuttgart, Institute for Principles of Modern Architecture
Workshop with sobat-sobat, documenta fifteen
Lecture / Workshop, Barbican Centre
Short Course in collaboration with Abbas Zahedi, Royal College of Art, London
2021
Lecture / Workshop, Universität der Künste Berlin
Guest Lecture in Ahmet Ögüt’s seminar, Universität der Künste Berlin
Short Course in collaboration with Abbas Zahedi, Royal College of Art, London
Guest Lecture, Sotheby's Institute of Art, London
Guest Lecture, Central Saint Martins, London
Contributions / Partnerships
2022
Meme contribution to The Crit, curated by Frank Wasser, at Ruskin School of Art, The University of Oxford (Link)
Monthly meme contribution to Crisp Magazine (Link)
2021
Meme contribution to Andy Holden’s book, Collected Free Labour: Blog Interviews 2010-2021 (Link)
Meme contribution to CIRCA Art (Link)
Art Market est. 2020 partnership with Project Art Distribution (PAD) (Link)
Jury on ROY 2022 (Link)
Media Partner of SoMeMeR uNSCHool oF MEiMETICS (Link)
Meme contribution to memeclassworldwide publication (Link)