Berlin’s vibrant art scene has recently welcomed an exciting new exhibition titled America Unframed, which introduces a wave of emerging U.S.-based talent to European audiences. Curated by William Croghan, Benno Tubbesing, and Matthieu Von Matt from American Art Projects, this exhibition marks their European debut and sets the stage for an ongoing cultural exchange between the U.S. and Germany. Open through June 13, America Unframed is already generating buzz for its timely subject matter and genre-defying curation.
Rather than adhering to specific mediums or formal aesthetics, America Unframed focuses on a shared visual dialogue shaped by American Realism, Pop Art, commercial iconography, Hollywood sensibilities, and the pervasive influence of internet culture. The result is an eclectic yet cohesive presentation that captures the evolving identity of contemporary American art, particularly as it is viewed through a generational lens.
A Generational Cross-Section of American Expression
The exhibition features a diverse lineup of artists, including Aaron Elvis Jupin, Alfonso Gonzalez Jr., Anabel Juárez, Billie Clarken, Dylan Solomon Kraus, Elizabeth Jaeger, Emmanuel Louisnord Desir, Francesco Igory Deiana, Hannah Taurins, Henry Gunderson, Mario Ayala, and Matt McCormick. This group encompasses painters, sculptors, and multidisciplinary creatives, all contributing to an evolving narrative about what it means to be American in the 21st century.
What unites these artists is their fluency in cultural symbolism and a tendency to remix familiar imagery into new visual contexts. They draw inspiration from the aesthetics of strip mall signage, social media feeds, street culture, cartoons, and consumer goods—not as a form of satire, but as a serious commentary on the visual language that defines modern American identity. Their work is not merely ironic or nostalgic; it is emotionally sincere, rooted in a desire to understand the images and institutions that have shaped them.
Moreover, there is a notable awareness of time in their work—how the past bleeds into the present and how digital culture collapses history, personal memory, and mass media into a single visual field. The artworks on display do not seek to resolve these contradictions; instead, they inhabit that space, creating tension and dialogue through contrast and reconfiguration.
Berlin as a Backdrop for Cultural Exchange
The choice to debut America Unframed in Berlin was intentional. The German capital has long been a haven for international creatives, with its contemporary art community thriving on openness to global perspectives. By situating a show about American visual culture in this context, the curators open a new pathway for cross-cultural dialogue—one that transcends nationalistic frameworks and embraces transnational conversation.
This approach is particularly relevant in a time when American politics, media, and culture continue to resonate globally. America Unframed does not provide answers to these complexities but instead offers a platform for reflection through the eyes of a generation raised amidst cultural oversaturation, algorithm-driven identities, and a growing disillusionment with traditional power structures.
As curators Croghan, Tubbesing, and Von Matt describe it, this exhibition is “not a manifesto, but a reflection of the work we believe is defining something new.” This spirit of openness and exploration is palpable throughout the show, encouraging viewers to engage rather than pass judgment.
Toward a Transatlantic Dialogue
America Unframed is designed to be the first in a series of exhibitions connecting American and European artistic communities, setting a high bar for what that dialogue might entail. Rather than attempting to define a singular voice or movement, the show allows multiple perspectives to coexist—sometimes in harmony, sometimes in friction. This curatorial strategy mirrors the chaotic beauty of the internet, reflecting how art now navigates through screens, subcultures, and nontraditional spaces.
For Berliners and international visitors alike, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience American contemporary art outside the conventional institutional lens. It is less polished and more personal, less didactic and more reflective. In this way, it feels more authentic to the moment we are all navigating.
With the exhibition open through June 13, there remains ample time to engage with this timely snapshot of American culture in flux—framed not by borders, but by the imaginations of artists ready to reshape the conversation.
To learn more about America Unframed and the curators behind it, visit American Art Projects or check out updates on Berlin’s art calendar.
