New York-based artist Saya Woolfalk is the subject of her first retrospective, "Saya Woolfalk: Empathic Universe," at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York. The exhibition, curated by Alexandra Schwarz, runs from April 12 to September 7, 2025, and surveys two decades of Woolfalk's multidisciplinary practice, which blends science fiction, fantasy, and critical examinations of race, science, anthropology, and identity. The show is organized into chapters highlighting major projects, including her fictional "Empathics"—a race of women who can fuse with plants—and features sculptures, video, painting, works on paper, a commissioned audio drama, and live dance performances.
The retrospective matters because it marks a career milestone for Woolfalk, whose world-building approach offers a unique lens for exploring hybridity, cultural traditions, and social issues. By juxtaposing diverse materials and influences—from African, Japanese, and Brazilian traditions to craft and storytelling—the exhibition demonstrates how her work creates new realities that encourage empathy and critical reflection. The inclusion of collaborations with the Atlantic Theater Company and Alvin Ailey/Fordham BFA Dance Program also highlights the interdisciplinary and community-engaged nature of her practice, making the show a timely meditation on navigating complex times.