A new exhibition titled “Drop, Cloth,” co-curated by Glenn Adamson and Severin Delfs, explores how contemporary artists have reimagined drapery over the past 50 years. The show features 30 works by 25 artists, spanning two Chelsea galleries—Hollis Taggart (through January 10, 2026) and Susan Inglett Gallery (through January 30, 2026). Works range from Sam Gilliam’s seminal *Little Dude* (circa 1972) to recent pieces by Kennedy Yanko, Jenny Morgan, and Chellis Baird, alongside historical pieces by Nina Yankowitz, Lynda Benglis, and Rosemary Mayer. The exhibition traces a lineage of drapery as both subject and material, including shaped canvas, paint skin, ceramic, metal, embroidery, and weaving.
This exhibition matters because it reframes drapery—often seen as a decorative or technical device—as a vital, evolving artistic language that bridges painting, sculpture, and textile art. By connecting Renaissance traditions to contemporary practices, “Drop, Cloth” highlights how artists use fabric and folded forms to explore materiality, identity, and spatial perception. The collaboration between two galleries and the inclusion of both established and emerging artists underscores the ongoing relevance of drapery in visual art, offering a fresh lens on a centuries-old motif.