Shag: Provocative Textiles
October 22-November 29, 2020
509 Third Ave. South
Shag features art by Elijah Burgher, Jessica Campbell, Elise Drake, Adama Delphine Fawundu, Alicia Henry, Shannon Cartier Lucy, Sophia Narrett, Katarina Riesing, Erin M. Riley, Sal Salandra, Linnéa Sjöberg, Chiffon Thomas, Vadis Turner.
Shag brings together artists whose work examines eroticism and sexuality through textile-based media. Textiles have a rich but often overlooked history in the world of fine art. For that reason, textile art has historically flown under the radar of the fine-art industry, so that even the work of critically lauded artists like Sheila Hicks, Billie Zangewa, Faith Ringold et al. retains a quality of subversion. Broadly speaking, textile’s ephemeral nature and association with craft traditions give it an easily irreverent quality — a sweater that’s knit from pornographic images, for example, can seem much more deviant than an actual photograph, just based on its associations.
For the same reason, textiles are an unusually effective medium for subverting sexual norms. The Shag artists use familiar, underappreciated materials — yarn, thread, canvas drop cloths — to create images that express sexuality and desire on their own terms.
The art in Shag ranges from strongly provocative to subtly suggestive, and includes a variety of mediums — from knit objects and woven tapestries to photographs, mixed-media sculpture and embroidery.
Installation photography by Daniel Meigs.
Sophia Narrett, "Mean," 2016. Embroidery thread, fabric and acrylic, 12 x 17 inches
Sal Salandra, "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy," 2020. Embroidery on canvas, 20 x 27 inches
Sal Salandra, "Say Your Prayers," 2020. Embroidery on canvas, 24 x 24 inches
Elijah Burgher, "Temples Underfoot," 2016. Acrylic and oil on drop cloth with candle wax, 108 x 80 inches
Elijah Burgher, "Attis," 2018. Acrylic and colored pencil on canvas, 108 x 72 inches
Vadis Turner, "Inverted Bouquet Heirloom," 2017. Hand-sewn quilt, ribbon, acrylic paint, resin, mixed media, 29 x 19 x 19 inches
Katarina Riesing, "Yellow Stripes," 2020. Dye and embroidery on raw silk, 20.5 x 17.25 inches
Katarina Riesing, "White Tights," 2020. Dye and embroidery on raw silk, 16 x 17 inches
Katarina Riesing, "Hug," 2019. Dye and embroidery on raw silk, 18 x 23 inches
Adama Delphine Fawundu, "Body Vernacular #5," 2017. Archival pigment on paper, Edition of 5 plus 1 artist’s proof, 24 x 30 inches
Adama Delphine Fawundu, "Body Vernacular #3," 2017. Archival pigment on paper, Edition of 5 plus 1 artist’s proof, 24 x 30 inches
Adama Delphine Fawundu, "Body Vernacular #6," 2017. Archival pigment on paper, Edition of 5 plus 1 artist’s proof, 24 x 30 inches
Elise Drake, "Ladies," 2020. Multimedia installation
Chiffon Thomas, "Precarity of a Person," 2020. Fabric, chalk pastel, embroidery floss, thread, 28.5 x 12 inches
Linnéa Sjöberg, "They are watching your back," 2019. Used garments, plastic, wool, applique, 62 x 36 x 4 inches
Linnéa Sjöberg, "Tracing of sand grains," 2019. Used garments, cotton, plastic, 50 x 33 x 4 inches
Shannon Cartier Lucy, "My Cell," 2016. Hand-knit wool, Size small
Jessica Campbell, "The Crack-Up," 2018. Acrylic rug on panel, 24 x 36 inches
Jessica Campbell, "Porn Cabbie," 2018. Acrylic rug and oil on panel, 30 x 40 inches
Erin M. Riley, "Self Portrait 3," 2015. Wool and cotton tapestry, 48 x 72 inches
Erin M. Riley, "Reflections 6," 2019. Wool and cotton tapestry, 48 x 62 inches
Alicia Henry, "Untitled," 2015-2020. Acrylic, wool, leather, dye, burlap, thread and yarn
Artworks by Elijah Burgher and Jessica Campbell appear courtesy of the artists and Western Exhibitions, Chicago. Artworks by Adama Delphine Fawundu appear courtesy of the artist and Hesse Flatow, New York. Artworks by Alicia Henry appears courtesy of the artist and Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville. Artworks by Sophia Narrett and Chiffon Thomas appear courtesy of the artists and Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles. Artworks by Katarina Riesing appear courtesy of the artist and Asya Geisberg Gallery, New York. Artwork by Linnéa Sjöberg appears courtesy of the artist and Company Gallery, New York. Artwork by Erin M. Riley appears courtesy of the artist and P.P.O.W. Gallery, New York.