At ICP on NYC's Lower East Side, Laia Abril Takes On Rape and Institutional Failure

The International Center of Photography on the Lower East Side is presenting Laia Abril: On Rape and Institutional Failure from October 15, 2026, through January 11, 2027. The exhibition is built around the second chapter of Abril's continuing project A History of Misogyny and looks at the many forms violence against women has taken across history.

Abril weaves together photographs, compiled testimonies, archival materials, select objects, and installations that use sound and video. The show investigates how gender-based stereotypes, along with prejudices and misconceptions held around the world, have contributed to a systemic rape culture that persists today.

The focus is on institutions rather than individuals. Abril aims to steer clear of victim-blaming narratives and instead addresses the ongoing problem of social accountability, which has let offenders and enablers alike avoid justice. The work was first exhibited in 2020, in the wake of the initial allegations against Harvey Weinstein and other powerful men. ICP notes that #MeToo has produced few sustained consequences and little systemic change, and it frames the show as a chance to face the long history of silencing victims and the transgenerational trauma that followed. The header images shown by ICP include 2019 works on bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan, church rape in Argentina, and military rape in the US.

Abril, born in 1986 and based in Switzerland, is a research-based artist working across photography, text, video, and sound, with a focus on biopolitics and gender. Her work has been shown in more than 25 countries and is held by the Centre Pompidou, Photo Elysée, Fotomuseum Winterthur, MACBA, Reina Sofía, MNAC, and the V&A. Her books include The Epilogue, Lobismuller, and the A History of Misogyny series: On Abortion, On Rape, and On Mass Hysteria. Her honors include the Foam Paul Huf Award, the RPS Hood Medal, the Aperture Best Book Award, and Spain's National Photography Award.

The curator is Sara Ickow, ICP's Associate Director of Exhibitions. Because the material is difficult, ICP provides a link to resources and hotlines for visitors who feel distressed. Tickets are sold through ICP's website, and the museum's main entrance is at 84 Ludlow Street.