featured project
OBSESSED, the group exhibition Shelby Nelson Ward curated at Zepster in Bushwick, Brooklyn, is inspired by Mariah Carey’s hit song Obsessed and the developmental impact of social media on the millennial generation. This exhibition explores how contemporary culture influences our understanding of self-worth and authenticity. Devon Gordon, the gallery founder gives us an insight into the venue and the current show, which runs through November 17th, 2024.
Tell us about the genesis of Zepster.
Zepster was officially founded in May of 2024. I graduated from Pratt in 2022 and during my time during and after college I curated pop up exhibitions. I saw the current Zepster gallery space and instantly knew this was the right exhibition space to take my curatorial pursuits to the next level. I approached Reed Chojnacki with the ambition to open the gallery and he was excited to be my partner for it. We have a similar curatorial style and vision for how we want to expand Zepster.
Can you give us an idea of how you select your curators and create your programming?
OBSESSED is the first time that I’m working with a curator that isn’t Reed or myself. I loved the premise behind the show and thought it fit with the ethos of Zepster. There were also a couple of artists Shelby included that I have previously shown so it was great synergy. The first 6 months of Zepster Reed and I thought it would be good to do group shows to help get the name out and expose the gallery to a breadth of artists and collectors.
What is the premise behind OBSESSED?
OBSESSED reflects on the pervasive impact of social media platforms, examining how they have shaped our relationships and self-image, particularly among younger generations. The exhibition features a range of artworks that address themes of obsession and the struggle for authenticity.
What are your plans for 2025?
For 2025 we want to exhibit solo shows and smaller group shows. We have a few artists we’ve shown a couple of times so it’s building a little bit of a roster.
Participating artists in OBSESSED: Stephen Deffet, Jen DeLuna, Claire Elise, Lanyi Gao, Kendalle Getty, Grace Horan, Paul-Sebastian Japaz, Inés Maestre, Rodrigo Moreira, Kevin Mosca, Thomas Tomczak, Youyi Echo Yan