Why Look at Animals? A Case for the Rights of Non-Human Lives is a major group exhibition that centres on animal rights and animal well-being, highlighting the need to recognise and defend the lives of non-human animals in an anthropocentric world that marginalises, oppresses and brutalises them. The exhibition is inspired by the seminal text of the same name by John Berger, “Why Look at Animals?” (1980), which explores the animal-human relationship in modernity and how animals have become marginalised in human societies. With the participation of more than 60 artists from four continents and with over 200 works occupying all the floors of the Museum, Why Look at Animals? is the largest exhibition ever organized by EMΣT and the first major exhibition on non-human animal rights internationally.

The exhibition and public programme organised around it aim to raise awareness of the conditions of non-human animal life today – from the agricultural industry, the science lab and the business of entertainment, to the state of wildlife and animals subsisting in urban environments – asserting the personhood of animals as sentient beings, with unique intelligences of their own. Why Look at Animals? highlights the fact that the myriad species that exist alongside us are an integral part of our biosphere and ecosystems, not products and automata, separate from and subordinate to us. With this project EMΣT puts ecological justice and the rights of non-human life at the heart of its programming for the months to come. If humanity wants to engage with climate justice, biodiversity and environmental protection, non-human animals form an integral part of the discussion.

Τhe exhibition features a guest curated project, Sonic Space, consisting of a selection of audio works created by artists and researchers in fields such as zoomusicology and eco-acoustics, curated by Joanna Zielińska.

Joseph Havel is included in "The Marzio Years: Transforming the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1982–2010 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston" at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston from 25 October 2020 - 10 January 2021.

Joseph Havel's exhibition "Joss" is on view at Asia Society Texas Center from 29 August to 8 November 2020.

Havel has created a series of new works in response to the ancient bronze vessels currently featured in Asia Society Texas Center's "Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes." Joss paper and other paper items made in the forms of daily necessities such as food, household goods, and personal objects are burned as offerings in ancestor rituals with the understanding that the smoke carries their value to the spirit world. The ephemerality of joss paper contrasts sharply with the more durable nature of bronze. Havel constructs these sculptures by first using the paper forms of household goods and clothing to determine the compositions, then casting them in bronze.

Artist Joseph Havel checks in with Contemporary Art Museum, Houston's Deputy Director Christina Brungardt during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Joseph Havel exhibition, "Parrot Architecture," at Hiram Butler Gallery, Houston, TX will be on view from 14 September to 26 October, 2019. There will be an opening reception to honor the artist on 14 September from 11 am - 1 pm. 

We are pleased to announce that Joseph Havel will be included in the group exhibition "Place" at Hiram Butler Gallery, Houston, TX from 17 August - 28 September 2019. The exhibition will also include Jane Benson, Leslie Hewitt, Rick Lowe and Clarissa Tossin. 

Talley Dunn is pleased to present a solo exhibition of new works by Joseph Havel, 10 March - 21 April 2018.

Talley Dunn Gallery is pleased to present SPILL a solo exhibition of new works by Joseph Havel, 16 January - 20 February 2016.

Hiram Butler Gallery is please to present Joseph Havel: How to Draw a Circle, a solo exhibition of new works by Joseph Havel.

1 August - 26 September 2015

Talley Dunn Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of works by Joseph Havel opening on 22 February 2014.

22 February - 29 March 2014