Cameron Rowland

Cameron Rowland (born 1988) is an American conceptual artist whose work has been exhibited internationally and acclaimed for its structural analytic approach to addressing issues of American slavery, mass incarceration, and reparations. They became known for their conceptual art addressing social injustice in contemporary society and displaying ready-made objects that are obtained through abstruse economic exchanges. After their exhibitions at Essex Street gallery in 2014 and MoMA PS1’s Greater New York show in 2015, their work gained a wider audience. Other works of theirs use such objects as wooden desks and wooden benches manufactured by prison labourers for far less than minimum wage. Rowland encourages museums not just to show work about marginalised communities but actually do something about how they live.

Rowland is an example of an artist who is able to place conditions the terms of collection for their work. Since 2015, Rowland has made about half of their works available in this manner. Rowland's 2019 show at Art Basel in Miami Beach was their first show that solely presented works circulated under this model.

His work Attica Series Desk (2016) consists of an office desk manufactured by incarcerated labourers at Attica Correctional Facility and purchased through the New York state correctional industries catalogue. Frieze named the work No.1 of "The 25 Best Works of the 21st Century", stating that "the work confronts the material traces of systemic inequity and property relations, making visible what is often hidden."

Notable works in public collections

Handpunch (2014–2015), Hessel Museum of Art, Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York; and Whitney Museum, New York Disgorgement (2016), Museum of Modern Art, New York Insurance (2016), Museum of Modern Art, New York Insurance (2016), Art Institute of Chicago National Ex-Slave Mutual Relief, Bounty and Pension Association Badges (2016), Museum of Modern Art, New York New York State Unified Court System (2016), Museum of Modern Art, New York (Work rented to museum, at cost) Payroll (2016), University of Chicago Booth School of Business Art Collection Jim Crow (2017), Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh 2015 MOCA REAL ESTATE ACQUISITION (2018), Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles Assessment (2018), Tate, London Depreciation (2018), stewarded by Dia Art Foundation, Beacon, New York Group of 11 Used Bikes - Item: 0281-007089 (2018), Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt, Germany (Work rented to museum, at cost) Stihl Backpack Blower - Item: 0514-005983 (2018), Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt, Germany (Work rented to museum, at cost) probability of escape (2020), Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami Lynch Law in America (2021), Art Institute of Chicago

Awards Rowland was chosen as a MacArthur Fellow in 2019. 91020000 (2016), Artists Space, New York; Birmingham (2017) Galerie Buchholz, Cologne; D37 (2018), Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; 3 & 4 Will. IV c.73 (2020), Institute of Contemporary Arts, London; and Amt 45 i (2023), Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt.

Rowland has also participated in a large number of group exhibitions, including La Biennale de Montreal (2016); Whitney Biennial (2017); São Paulo Art Biennial (2018); and Afro-Atlantic Histories (2021-2023).