CHANEL Connects: The Futurists with Adam Pendleton and Yana Peel – Episode Summary
Release Date: August 12, 2025
Introduction
In the fifth season of CHANEL Connects, host Yana Peel engages in a profound conversation with acclaimed artist Adam Pendleton. Set against the evocative backdrop of La Pausa, Gabrielle Chanel’s meticulously restored Mediterranean villa on the French Riviera, this episode delves into Pendleton's artistic journey, his conceptual frameworks, and his collaborative endeavors that bridge past and future creative expressions.
Celebrating "Love Queen" at the Hirshhorn Museum
The episode kicks off with Yana Peel congratulating Pendleton on his exhibition Love Queen at the Hirshhorn Museum. Pendleton elaborates on the exhibition's focus, highlighting its exploration of his core work in painting:
“Love Queen is an exhibition that's very much so focused on the core of my work, which is painting. It includes paintings from five different bodies of work, some of which I've been working on at this point for almost 20 years” (01:06).
Pendleton emphasizes the transformative nature of his work over time and its dialogue with the museum's 50th anniversary celebration alongside the Revolutions exhibition.
The Genesis and Evolution of Black Dada
A significant portion of the discussion centers on Pendleton’s Black Dada manifesto, introduced in 2008. Peel probes into its origins and its relationship with the avant-garde, prompting Pendleton to share the manifesto's foundational intent:
“Black Dada… attempts to break down what those kinds of assumptions around blackness are or could or would be. It's not about black artists or writers. It's actually about creating a much more capacious space that is more invested in ideas of difference and dissonance” (04:17).
Pendleton clarifies that Black Dada is a conceptual and visual project aimed at redefining perceptions of blackness, fostering a space rich in diversity and complexity.
The Power of Abstraction in Art
Transitioning to the theme of abstraction, Pendleton articulates its role as a multifaceted technology that enhances humanistic potential:
“Abstraction… is a visual technology that expands the ways in which I perceive and also move through the world. It allows me to create context, create poetic experience and potential, and also to shape time and space.” (08:50).
He underscores abstraction's capacity to concretely express nuanced ideas, making it a pivotal element in his artistic expression.
Homecoming and Personal Reflections
Peel shifts the conversation to a more personal note, inquiring about Pendleton’s return to Virginia and the sense of homecoming associated with exhibiting his work at the Hirshhorn:
“It did feel like a homecoming of a certain kind.” (06:39).
Pendleton reminisces about his childhood visits to the National Mall and his lifelong connection to the Hirshhorn's impressive collection, highlighting the honor of being part of its 50th-anniversary celebrations.
Forging Collaborative Relationships
A notable highlight of the episode is Pendleton's recounting of his interactions with influential figures like Rosalie Goldberg and Joan Jonas. He narrates how Goldberg recognized his potential and facilitated his entry into performance art, leading to significant collaborations:
“Rosalie was doing these incredible commissions with artists who in many instances, have never done a live work before… and she kept saying I wanted to do something together.” (18:14).
Similarly, his meeting with Joan Jonas sparked a long-lasting partnership that seamlessly blends their creative endeavors.
Preserving Nina Simone's Legacy
In what stands out as a profound culmination of the conversation, Pendleton discusses his role in preserving Nina Simone’s childhood home. This initiative, undertaken with fellow artists and the National Trust, exemplifies the episode’s overarching theme of building the future from historical fragments:
“With the National Trust we have, the site became designated a national treasure… and we raised $5 million to endow the home.” (25:31).
Pendleton reflects on the decade-long effort to restore and safeguard the home, ensuring that Simone’s legacy inspires future generations.
Looking Ahead: Future Projects and Vision
Concluding the episode, Pendleton shares his ongoing commitment to exploring the intersections of painting and blackness through his forthcoming book, Black Painting. He envisions the book as a deep dive into the conceptual possibilities of blackness in relation to painting, spanning a century of artistic history.
“Black Painting… will be about the relationship between painting and the capacious possibility of blackness as a concept, as an idea.” (28:49).
Closing Remarks
Yana Peel wraps up the conversation by acknowledging Pendleton's relentless pursuit of innovation and his role in shaping contemporary art. She invites listeners to explore more episodes of CHANEL Connects, celebrating its rich archive of dialogues with visionaries across various creative fields.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
- “Love Queen… the most recent examples from said body of work.” – Adam Pendleton 01:06
- “Black Dada… creating a much more capacious space that is more invested in ideas of difference and dissonance.” – Adam Pendleton 04:17
- “Abstraction… is a visual technology that expands the ways in which I perceive and also move through the world.” – Adam Pendleton 08:50
- “It did feel like a homecoming of a certain kind.” – Adam Pendleton 06:39
- “With the National Trust we have, the site became designated a national treasure.” – Adam Pendleton 25:31
- “Black Painting… will be about the relationship between painting and the capacious possibility of blackness as a concept, as an idea.” – Adam Pendleton 28:49
Conclusion
This episode of CHANEL Connects offers an intimate glimpse into Adam Pendleton's artistic philosophy, his dedication to preserving cultural legacies, and his visionary approach to collaboration. Through rich dialogue and thoughtful reflections, Pendleton illuminates the pathways through which art can shape and redefine our understanding of identity, history, and future possibilities.
*For more insightful conversations, listen to CHANEL Connects on Spotify, YouTube Music, or Apple Podcasts.