Kevin Beasley

The Appalachian Mountains, which govern the winding highway traveled by artist Kevin Beasley during the development of his recent work, can be described as “fold mountains” – created from two or more of the Earth’s tectonic plates pushing together. At these intersecting shores, rock and debris are compressed into and within each other, shedding individuality to forge a shared landscape.

Akin to the convergent layers of geography and people that have formed this region, Beasley’s work binds together disparate elements to re-fashion our understanding of place, material, and memory. This is a tapestry-like arena where history lives more concurrently than sequentially, with traces and traumas floating within the fog of time.

Drawing on his roots in the Southeast, Kevin Beasley’s exhibition will navigate the multi-layered terrain of this region. Using textiles such as raw cotton and weathered clothing, Beasley transforms familiar materials into landscapes both intimate and expansive, connecting the region’s complex sociopolitical identity within his own childhood experiences.