Sanford Biggers's first major solo exhibition on the East End, "Drift," opens at the Parrish Art Museum on Sunday and runs through September 13. The show features new works and site-responsive installations, including the monumental "Unsui (Cloud Forest)" (2025), a series of illuminated cloud sculptures suspended from the museum's arched ceiling. Co-curated by Corinne Erni and Scout Hutchinson, the exhibition spans Biggers's multidisciplinary practice—painting, sculpture, video, performance, and textile works—drawing on influences from Buddhism to graffiti culture and Gee's Bend quilts. Highlights include examples from his "Codex" series, made from repurposed antique quilts with spray-painted cloud forms, and a new sand installation inspired by prayer rugs and Japanese Buddhist mandalas.
The exhibition matters because it positions Biggers, a prominent contemporary artist, within a major museum context on the East End, expanding his reach beyond New York City. By centering on the cloud as a symbol of fluctuation, adaptability, and shared perception, "Drift" invites viewers to contemplate themes of cultural symbolism, American identity, and spiritual resonance. The show also underscores the Parrish Art Museum's commitment to ambitious, site-responsive programming that transforms gallery spaces into immersive environments for reflection.