Matthew Barney Takes to the Field in Aspen, Again

Matthew Barney is aiming to score big in the Rocky Mountains again. The artist has created a new work for this year's Aspen Art Museum AIR (Art in Residence) Festival, which kicks off today, July 27, that gives a permanent, second life to an ephemeral work he created last year.

Barney's large-scale sculpture, ZONE DEFENSE: Old Snowmass Parallax, transforms the athletic endeavor and physical endurance of his live performance piece inspired by American football at last year's Aspen festival into a permanent, site-specific installation at Rose Ranch.

Visitors heading to the ranch on Friday, when the work is due to be unveiled, are advised to dress appropriatly, and also "expect changing weather conditions, dust, and other naturally occurring environmental conditions".

Ivan Cheng's site-specific intervention for the second edition of AIR also comes with a warning. Visitors planning to experience his site-specific work, 16, are advised to wear closed-toe shoes, watch for hazardous materials, and even consider bringing PPE, as the work is being staged at an active landfill.

Aspen Art Museum's ArtCrush Auction takes place later this week at Anderson Ranch Arts Center, with an exhibition of the auction works now on view for collectors who prefer their high-altitude art a little less demanding. Aliza Nisenbaum, whose work is included in the ArtCrush, is due at the ranch today, July 27, for an artist talk.

Also in town for the ArtCrush Gala, which is due to be held at the base of Buttermilk Mountain, is the 2026 honoree, artist Adrián Villar Rojas, recipient of the Lewis Family Art Award. His solo exhibition is now on view at the Aspen museum, where the centerpiece is his first bronze work: a life-size triceratops skull sculpture, Untitled (from the series The Language of the Enemy), co-commissioned by the museum and luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet.