Sean Snyder takes the global circulation of data as the raw materials for his practice. Snyder’s underlying concern is to track the ways in which ideologies shape the representational languages of mass media. He experiments multi-layered signs revealing unexpected layers in an intentionally non-pedagogical way.
Refusing to conform to conventions, his practice avoids simple classification. His installations deconstruct assumptions that might be attributed to a topic. Interrogating representation, the nebulous investigations, occasionally come into clear focus oscillating between fact and fiction. What might seemingly be intelligible, might turn out to be far more complex. Conversely, what may apparently be complex, might unravel in multi-farious, yet simple and uncomplicated ways.

In a work of vast breadth and scope, Snyder taps into the myriad sources of today’s newsfeed culture to make us reflect on the very foundations of what we see on our screens. “Despite the ever increasing amount of images we are exposed to,” he writes, “it could be conjectural that we see less. We see less of the image itself, overpowered by the meaning imposed by the discursive context in which it appears.” Our gaze is clouded because images are not windows open to the world but the distorting constructs of propaganda.

Sean Snyder was awarded the Israeli Center for Digital Art (2007); the ARTE Prize for a European Short Film (2006); and the IASPIS (2000), among others.

His notable solo exhibitions include the Rembrandt and Ravachol Appreciation Society, Rongwrong (2020); Document, Chicago (2015); Kölnischer Kunstverein, Köln (2013); Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main (2012); The Israeli center for Digital Art, Holon (2010); Redcat, Los Angeles (2010); Institute for Contemporary Arts, London (2009); The Front Room - Contemporary Art Museum, Saint Louis (2009);
Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (2007); National Museum of Contemporary Art, [MNAC], Bucharest (2007); Portikus im Leinwandhaus, Frankfurt am Main (2005); De Appel, Amsterdam (2004); Institute of Contemporary Art, Sofia (2004); DZ Bank Kunststipendium, Berlin (2003).

Sean Snyder was also featured in several international group shows: MoMA PS1, New York (2019); Bergen Kunsthall (2018); National Museum, Oslo (2018); Bonniers Konsthall, Stockholm (2017); OCAT Museum, Xi'an (2016); Centre de la photographie de Genève (2016); Kitakyushu Biennale (2015); Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam (2015); Barbican Center, London (2014); The Garage, Moscow (2014); Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (2013); CCA Wattis, San Franscisco (2012); CAPC — Musée d'art contemporain, Bordeaux (2011); KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin (2009); Museu de Arte Moderna de Sao Paulo (2009); Ludwig Museum Budapest (2008); New Museum, New York (2008); Musée National d'Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris (2007).