The exhibition Maggie Lee: Magazine at Kunsthalle Zürich is the culmination of the artist Maggie Lee’s longstanding ambition to produce her own widely circulated publication, influenced by her background working in copy stores and creating zines since her teenage years in New Jersey. Self-publishing holds a particular allure for Lee, offering a platform for creative self-expression and connecting with a broader audience. Her artistic process involves collecting, cutting, scanning, and assembling materials to create collages, installations, videos, and sound works, all centered around the technique of montage and the joy of disseminating self-made content.

The exhibition at Kunsthalle Zürich mirrors the concept of Lee’s imagined magazine, featuring a central desk representing the creative hub, surrounded by inspirations and ideas. The walls showcase paintings resembling magazine layouts, graffiti reminiscent of advertisements, and a strange horror film. Lee’s artistic practice, often likened to diary writing due to her background as a blogger, combines reposting, collecting, commenting, and compiling, reflecting the DIY ethos of zine culture. Maggie Lee: Magazine is curated by Otto Bonnen and runs until May 20, 2024.

In this video, we have a look at the exhibition on the occasion of the opening day, and Maggie Lee introduces us to her show by talking about her artistic practice, the concept of the show and how it came about.

Maggie Lee: Magazine / Kunsthalle Zürich. Interview with Maggie Lee, February 9, 2024.