Wordplay draws primarily from the ICA’s permanent collection to showcase how contemporary artists have played with words to animate and expand their art practices.
Highlighting the rich interplay between imagery and text and the related practices of looking and reading, Wordplay draws primarily from the ICA’s permanent collection to showcase how contemporary artists have played with words to animate and expand their art practices. Text has been part of visual expression for centuries, but “text art” as a genre began to proliferate with the emergence of conceptual art in the 1960s. Artists in the exhibition use text to probe philosophical questions, express and subvert political messages, challenge notions of identity, and connect their artwork with multiple references, writers, and cultural icons. This exhibition will feature many recently acquired works that have never been on view by artists Kenturah Davis, Taylor Davis, Joe Wardwell, and Rivane Neuenschwander, alongside work by Jenny Holzer and Glenn Ligon who have pioneered the creative engagement with language.
Nonmember $20.00
Senior (60+) $17.00
Student* (with valid ID) $15.00
MTA/AFT Cardholder (1 admission per individual MTA or AFT card) $8.00
Library Pass Coupon** (pick up coupon at participating libraries) $5.00
Youth (13-18) $0.00
Youth (0-12) $0.00
Tickets for free Thursday nights will be available online at 10 AM on the day of the event.
Contact: (617) 478-3100
Email: visitorservices@icaboston.org
Additional time info: Museum closes at 5pm with the exception of Thursday and Friday in which it closes at 9pm.
Phone: (617) 478-3100
Email: visitorservices@icaboston.org
2024/01/30 - 2024/12/01
The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston
25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston, MA 02210
Have a question that isn’t answered here? Contact Visitor Services at 617-478-3100 or visitorservices@icaboston.org.
Is the ICA accessible to visitors with disabilities and special needs?
The ICA is fully wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair seating and assistive listening devices are available in the Barbara Lee Family Foundation Theater; please contact the box office at 617-478-3103 or visitorservices@icaboston.org in advance to make a request. If you need further assistance, including sign language interpretation, please contact the box office at least two weeks in advance of the program.
Visitors with wheelchairs may be dropped off directly in front of the museum. Additional information can be found here.
ParkingThe ICA does not own or operate a parking garage. A list of parking options can be found here.
ArrivalThere is a curb cut in front of the museum’s public entrance, and visitors may be dropped off directly in front of this entrance. The public entrance is equipped with power-assist doors.
Admission is freefor recipients of federal disability assistance (SSDI, SSI, VA benefits, etc), plus one personal care attendant per visitor.
AnimalsAnimals are not permitted in the museum, with the exception of service animals as identified by the Americans with Disabilities Act.Learn more about our policy.
Quiet visitation hoursFor visitors interested in exploring the ICA during quieter times, we recommend visiting on a weekday mornings or late afternoons. Please note that some exhibitions include works with sound that can be heard throughout the galleries.