In a clash of world views and aesthetics, Vienna’s Winterpalais is presenting the first European survey exhibition of American artist Sterling Ruby this summer. The exhibition, simply titled “Sterling Ruby,” will be on view from July 8 to October 16, 2016.

Sterling Ruby has a reputation of being absolutely unpredictable. The 44-year-old has often surprised the art world with his output and versatile creations, as well as choices in medium: from nail polish paintings to rough looking ceramics or enormous polyurethane sculptures, or the spray paintings he originally became known for. And then, of course, there was his collaboration with fashion designer Raf Simons several years ago.

In his exhibition at Belvedere’s Winterpalais, once the residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy, Ruby now ventures into the past of the Baroque building via its former association with military imperialism and rhetoric. Prince Eugene (1663-1736) led the Habsburg armies in their wars against the Ottomans and played an important role in defeating the French in the war of the Spanish succession. The Winterpalais, which he built for himself in the early 18th century, thus, is richly decorated with lavish depictions of battles, victories, and warfare in general.

Ruby’s exhibition features works from throughout his career that are dedicated to investigating and analyzing military and imperialistic representation in the media and other contexts. Some of the pieces on view, such as a series of new tapestries, were created especially for the show; others, like his textile “Candle (5650)” structure, 2015, referencing the US flag, were previously shown in utterly different contexts. Itself an artistic invasion of sorts, the exhibition, whose military theme Ruby developed with curator Mario Codognato, was designed to initiate an irritating and at times ironic confrontation with the mindset inscribed in the Palais’s DNA. Prince Eugene would be surprised.

“Sterling Ruby” runs from July 8 through October 26, 2016, at Belvedere, Winterpalais, Vienna, Austria. Click herefor more information.