Artists to be featured: Monica Banks, Louise Bourgeois, Rembrandt Bugatti, Deborah Butterfield, Joan Brown, Maurizio Cattelan, Thomas Deininger, Jim Dine, William Edmondson, Angus Fairhurst, Daniel Firman, Elizabeth Frink, Jean-François Gambino, Brendan Hemsmondhalgh, Nicola Hicks, Bryan Hunt, Jörd Immendorf, Ryan Johnson, William Kent, William Kentridge, Sherrie Levine, Sarah Lucas, Kate MccGwire, Allan McCollum, Mentawai people, Bruce Nauman, John O’Reilly, Charles Ray, Germaine Richier, Jane Rosen, Susan Rothenberg, Claudette Schreuders, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Kiki Smith, Anthony Theakston, Nichola Theakston, Catherine Thiry, Rosemarie Trockel, William Tucker, Patrick Villas,  and Daisy Youngblood.

The Ark, The Church’s 2025 Summer exhibition curated by Eric Fischl, refers directly to the myth of the Deluge: an event of such apocalyptic scale, forewarned, unheeded, and unstoppable, that it appeared it would be the end of all life on earth. However, through human resourcefulness, will, and compassion, the Great Flood marked a new beginning, a do-over… a rebirth. Composed solely of animal sculptures by over 40 international artists of the last century, the exhibition looks closely at man’s relationship with animals, nature, and self.   

“These works explore themes of beauty, empathy, vulnerability, desperation, tenderness, and connection to both the otherness of animals in the wildness of nature and a mirroring metaphor for the interior world of Self. The works are, for the most part, handmade, which further highlights the complexity of our experience of both the art object created and the emotional urgency one feels through its maker” – Eric Fischl  

The exhibition will feature robust and unique programming that has become a hallmark of our organization. As well, the show will extend to the outdoors, featuring several works throughout The Church’s Garden. In tune with a thematic element of connection and the resourcefulness of working together, as well as The Church’s commitment to fostering creativity on the East End and celebrating Sag Harbor’s living legacy, The Ark will also include a collaboration with The Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum of a community-wide art project to decorate and enliven a large wooden ark, to be displayed on the front lawn of the Whaling Museum concurrently through the summer. The project will unite people of all ages through art, allowing people to creatively add to the ark with paint, sculpture, and other fun projects.

Of particular note, the exhibition will be the first time that The Church will use its outdoor deck, adjacent to the mezzanine level – which will be the site for Louise Bourgeois’s SPIDER COUPLE, 2003, an iconic, 12-foot sculpture that marks the first time one of these celebrated works will be shown in at an arts institution on the East End.

Finally, we are pleased to announce that the exhibition will be accompanied by a full-illustrated catalogue, featuring all of the works in the show as well as text contributions by many of the artists, designed and produced by Pointed Leaf Press.