Pictures and Promises: A Display of Advertisings, Slogans, and Interventions was an exhibition curated by Barbara Kruger on display at The Kitchen from January 8–February 5, 1981, with an opening reception on January 10. The exhibition featured advertising in the form of newspaper ads, television commercials, posters, commercial photography, corporate insignia, and public signage—including advertisements from various companies such as Chase Bank, Campbell’s Soup, and Seagram’s—juxtaposed with work by artists such as Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman, and Hans Haacke.
According to the press release, “the quotational qualities of these words and pictures remove them and their ‘originals’ from the seemingly ‘natural’ position within the flow of dominant social directives, into the realm of commentary.”
This exhibition included works by Dara Birnbaum, Victor Burgin, Martin Cohen, James Collins, Jimmy De Sana, Barbara Ess, Hans Haacke, Jenny Holzer, Jerry Kearns, Joseph Kosuth, Barbara Kruger, Elizabeth Kulos, Les Levine, Sherry Levine, Matt Mullican, Paul Outerbridge, Richard Prince, Cindy Sherman, Laurie Simmons, Klaus Staeck, John Stezaker, Andy Warhol, James Welling, Hannah Wilke, and Paul Wombell.
It featured advertisements from companies such as Arco, Collier’s Magazine, Dow Chemical, East London Health Project, Gentleman’s Quarterly, and Sony.
