Brantly Sheffield

MetaFORE draws a cheeky parallel between two elite worlds: contemporary art and golf. This

exhibition takes a swing at the highbrow dynamics of gallery and museum spaces, alongside the

country club and golf course—both serving as exclusive sanctuaries for the privileged few. It

exposes the not-so-glamorous behind-the-scenes of consumer buy-ins—whether through

purchasing overpriced art or splurging on a country club membership—and how both art and

golf quietly ravage their surroundings without anyone batting an eye.

Here, artists become the geese, and their art becomes shit, with the golf course serving as the

ultimate “natural” habitat. The exclusivity of these spaces creates an illusion of ownership, not

just over culture, but over the land itself. As art turns into a commodity and golf courses guzzle

environmental resources, this exhibition humorously interrogates the balance between luxury and

ecological responsibility.

MetaFORE is a caustic commentary on the intersections of commerce, nature, and elitism,

offering a wink and a nod to the absurdity of it all. Through a self-deprecating lens, it also

reminds us that artists are the lifeblood of these spaces—but these spaces change on a dime,

often to the detriment of the very creators who help sustain them. By highlighting the art world’s

commodification of artists and the environmental toll of nine-hole indulgence, this installation

challenges us to reconsider our participation in these exclusive realms while offering a

sympathetic view of the artist’s precarious position within them.

Ultimately, MetaFORE prompts its audience to reflect on the privilege embedded in both art and

golf, acknowledging their humor, absurdity, and ecological irresponsibility. The artist, like the

goose, is often an overlooked contributor to these spaces—yet they continue to nourish,

transform, and sometimes get shit on in the process.

“It’s a Keeper!” was a site specific drawing at The Cedars Union Incubator for the Arts in Dallas Texas. It is based on the bluefin tuna fishery in the United States. The scale and site of the piece are indicative of the scale of a “keeper” bluefin (which is 73 inches or greater) and the docks that receive the tuna.