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Jacolby Satterwhite occupies a unique niche in contemporary art. His work makes use of 3D computer animation, elaborate costumes, and dance—typical performance art media these days. But his subject matter is more closely associated with a range of archly modernist painters, from Willem de Kooning to Eric Fischl to Lucian Freud. That’s because Satterwhite incorporates his mother into much of his work. For the Reifying Desire film series, for example, Satterwhite builds a 3D video world based on his mother’s drawings. Building a creative performance venue from his mother’s imaginings has helped him earn significant institutional attention since he graduated from Maryland Institute College of Art in 2008. He will introduce Reifying Desire 6 at the Whitney Biennial, but first Satterwhite will turn the Capitol Skyline Hotel lobby into a 24/7 art gallery. Tonight, he previews drawing and video preparatory pieces (and other works) for a new Washington Project for the Arts video series called Hothouse Video. Jacolby Satterwhite performs at 7 p.m. at the Capitol Skyline Hotel, 10 I St. SW. Free. (202) 234-7103. wpadc.org.