Soft/Cover surveys the many surprising ways artists have used fabric and screenprinting to create objects that relate to the body. Focusing on the relationship of textiles to fashion and architecture, the exhibition includes new and rarely-shown works from The Fabric Workshop and Museum’s collection—each created by Artists-in-Residence in collaboration with FWM’s Studio team.
Founded in 1977, FWM has dedicated nearly five decades to helping artists experiment, often introducing them to textiles and the process of silkscreen on fabric. This creative journey has historically changed the direction of an artist’s practice by emphasizing new materials and techniques.
Soft/Cover draws inspiration from some of the Workshop’s earliest residencies in the late 1970s and early 1980s. During its first decade, celebrated artists such as Richard Tuttle, Lynda Benglis, Roy Lichtenstein, Vito Acconci, Louise Nevelson and many others benefited from intensive three-week opportunities to explore the possibilities of screenprinting. Artists-in-Residence have created wearable objects from everyday workwear to costumes, suits, dresses, and pants. While their works primarily focused on the body, these artists also expanded beyond garments to design upholstery, bedding, umbrellas, furniture, room dividers, large-scale installations, and even a tent.
Eight new resident artists were commissioned for this exhibition to further this creative endeavor and actively contribute to FWM’s archive: Julia Chiang, Brendan Fernandes, John Killacky, Aimee Koran, Mildred Beltré Martinez, Borna Sammak, Jenny Walton, and Armando Veve. The cohort worked closely with FWM’s team of in-house studio artists to create new garments, furniture, shelters, and more. True to the Workshop’s history, the residencies have opened pathways for these artists’ ideas, introducing new materials and forms to their ever-evolving practices.
