As his grant came to a close, Archivorum extends heartfelt thanks to Stephen Biegel for his dedication, his discerning eye, and the trust he helped cultivate along the way. His contributions have left a lasting mark that will continue to shape Archivorum ARK’s unfolding journey.
“The question ‘How do you want to be remembered?’ is daunting for anyone, yet for artists, it’s an unavoidable one. Whatever an artist’s answer might be, the archivist’s responsibility remains the same: to make sure that their legacy is not only preserved, but recorded with care, accuracy, and respect for the individuality of their practice.”
This is the mindset Stephen brought to the Archivorum Ark project in November 2023. He joined Archivorum as one of the three postgraduate research fellows, beginning a collaboration that existed almost entirely remotely. Yet, despite the distance, he built a steady sense of trust with the team.
Stephen holds a Master’s degree in Museum Studies (2019), with a thesis titled No Angel Above the Grid: Archives, Public Memory, and the HIV/AIDS Epidemic, which led him to work with archives of artists who died prematurely from HIV, including the archive of David Wojnarowicz. This experience deeply shaped his methodological approach, and indeed, Stephen often referred to Wojnarowicz’s “Magic Box,” a small collection of 58 unique found items, a collection that defies traditional archival description.
Stephen is not only an archivist but also a reserved artist based in New York, equally shy on the web and social media, who approaches contemporary issues and struggles with deep awareness and a critical perspective.
He developed a remarkable relationship with Belén Uriel, whose archive he oversaw. His work captures both the tangible and intangible aspects of her artistic life: scanned two-dimensional works, journals, and images that once adorned her studio’s “Inspiration Wall,” alongside other miscellaneous materials; documentation of workspaces, objects for inspiration, molds, casts, and unfinished pieces; exhibition photos and ephemeral materials; and finished works, pre-sculpture studies, and non-canonical pieces. This careful organization ensures the archive does more than store objects: it communicates the artist’s thinking, methods, and presence, creating a living record of her practice.
Archivorum wishes him the very best for what comes next, confident that this is not a farewell and looking forward to staying in touch!
Babs Haenen
Wonderful. Hope to see him next year!!!