Claire Watson: New Work

The Drawing Room is pleased to present an exhibition of new work by Claire Watson, who is showing with the gallery for the first time. 

On view through August 18th, the exhibition spotlights a body of work created over the past five years through the artist's idiosyncratic technique that incorporates fragments of deconstructed leather garments, gesso and stitching on canvas. Spanning compositions that range from 13 x 13 inches to a tour de force diptych with the presence of a monumental mural, the show reveals the artist's sophisticated handling of imposing biomorphic forms that have both graphic and metamorphic force.

Through her exploration of the classical tradition of pattern-making–skills passed down by her mother–Watson reconfigures elements of clothing, while retaining traces of its former utility and meticulous craftsmanship. Vestiges of coats, dresses and pants metamorphosize into dynamic visual structures that echo archetypal forms from ancient civilizations as well as the visual language of 20th century abstraction. Debuting her largest 'paintings' to date, and introducing new palettes that incorporate color in previously monochromatic compositions, Watson’s new work is inspired by both the physicality of her material and the poetic properties embedded within it.