Sprüth Magers gallery in Berlin is delighted to present artist Gretchen Bender’s Top Ten Grossing Films of 1988 series, displayed for the first time since its debut in 1989. The exhibition opens on November 14, 2025, and runs through April 4, 2026.
Bender’s critical art practice stems from a desire to keep pace with popular culture. Closely following Variety magazine, she created this series of ten sculptures by illuminating the titles of 1988’s top-grossing films on black, crumpled, heat-hardened vinyl with neon lights.
Through her research, Bender uncovered that the so-called “entertainment industry” is, in fact, an industry of corporate and financial policy. The ten film titles in the exhibition stand as the most successful products of these influences, prompting viewers to question how passively they consume them.
Over thirty-five years later, the series remains strikingly relevant. In an era where programs and artists are sacrificed to corporate interests due to political pressures, Bender’s work offers a powerful commentary on similar dynamics today.
The exhibition’s public opening event will take place on Thursday, November 13, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
