A new collaborative exhibition titled *Tension & Tenderness: The Domestic Surreal* has opened at Ferris State University’s Kendall College of Art and Design (KCAD) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The show unites artists Michael Pfleghaar and Lisa Walcott, who explore the hidden forces within everyday domestic life through painting and kinetic sculpture. Pfleghaar’s queer-coded interiors and still-life compositions blend flattened perspective with abstract elements, while Walcott repurposes household objects like brooms and drying racks into moving sculptures that evoke gravity, breathing, and repetition. The exhibition runs through November 15 in the KCAD FLEXgallery.
This exhibition matters because it reframes the ordinary as a site of deep psychological and emotional resonance, challenging viewers to reconsider the objects and spaces they inhabit. By pairing Pfleghaar’s intimate paintings with Walcott’s subtly animated installations, the show highlights how contemporary artists are using domesticity to address broader themes of identity, care, and systemic tension. It also underscores KCAD’s role in fostering regional artistic dialogue and supporting mid-career artists whose work has gained national recognition.