Artist and activist Michele Pred has opened a solo exhibition at Nancy Hoffman Gallery in New York, showcasing a body of work that addresses the erosion of civil and reproductive rights. The exhibition features her signature electroluminescent wire-stitched vintage handbags, sculptures made from found objects like wooden gavels and disarmed bullets, and large-scale inflatable abortion pill sculptures. Pred’s practice, rooted in her upbringing between California and Sweden, utilizes approachable domestic objects to deliver urgent political messages regarding bodily autonomy and social justice.
The show arrives at a critical juncture for American civil rights, particularly following the overturning of Roe v. Wade and ongoing legislative challenges to reproductive healthcare. By transforming fashion accessories and toys into "miniature billboards" for activism, Pred’s work bridges the gap between conceptual art and grassroots mobilization. The exhibition highlights the artist's long-term commitment to feminist discourse and serves as a call to action for viewers to engage in political advocacy through volunteering, donating, or protesting.