Published: April 23, 2019

A prolific artist who exhibitsÌınationally and internationally, Joel Swanson is having a successful spring. On April 15, his work,Ìı"Binary Pronouns," began streaming on , a 150-foot longÌıby 22-footÌıhigh array of 89 LED blades located in the lobby of the iconicÌı150 North Riverside building in Chicago. Earlier in the month, he joined a distinguished group of artists in the , an innovative art-loaning programÌılinked to Denver's Museum of Contemporary Art that allows members to live with a work of contemporary art in their homes for severalÌımonths before returning it to the collective.Ìı

Swanson explains, "Since the Museum of Contemporary Art isn't a collecting museum and can’t technically buy artwork to support local artists, the Octopus Initiative is a way to supportÌılocal artists and getÌıtheir work into the hands of the public. They commission local artists to produce 25 works that then go on loan to the public through a free raffle system."

The brainchildÌıof Adam Lerner, exiting director of the MCA, the Octopus Initiative maintains aÌırigorous evaluative process,Ìıbeginning with a nomination from aÌıleading member ofÌıthe Denver arts community, followed by a review by Denver's Museum of Contemporary Art’s curatorial team who evaluatesÌıa nominee's suitability for the program, conducting studio visits and reviewing a wide body of work.

Swanson, who earned a BFAÌıin digital art from CU Boulder, has exhibited his work extensively, including the Venice Biennale 2017; Republic Plaza in Denver (solo exhibition through June 12); the Broad Museum in Lansing, Michigan; The Power Plant in Toronto;Ìıthe North Miami Museum of Contemporary Art;Ìıand Denver’s Museum of Contemporary Art, where he had a solo exhibition.

Ìı

Ìı