Features

Next week, SVA Galleries presents “Plasticulture: The Rise of Sustainable Practices with Polymers,” an exhibition of works by 15 artists from Project Vortex, an artist collective innovating with plastic debris, curated by founding artist Aurora Robson. By combining creative expression with scientific exploration, “Plasticulture” aspires to encourage individuals and communities to embrace more sustainable practices and play a part in fostering a healthier planet. The exhibition will be on view from Saturday, October 26, through Saturday, December 7, at the SVA Chelsea Gallery, 601 West 26th Street, 15th floor.

Operating at the intersection of art and science, the 45 works in “Plasticulture” inspire a rethinking and reinvention of materials commonly regarded as refuse. Plastic is designed with “archival integrity,” making it an excellent medium for many creative applications. Through various practices, including sculpture and photography, the participating artists emphasize the significant environmental repercussions of its use and pollution, aiming to increase global awareness, consciousness, and action. 

Leticia Bajuyo’s mesmerizing, shimmering wall of compact discs reminds us of media formats that are out of fashion. Alejandro Durán’s surreal three-dimensional photographic prints show piles of plastic waste pouring out of the frame and literally onto the floor in front of them. Bryan Northup’s colorful mosaics play tricks on the eye, and Robson’s swirling sculptures mimic wildlife and everyday items. 

“This exhibition reflects a variety of methods in which artists are using their visionary skills to envision and create a more sustainable future and embracing the archival integrity of plastic debris in a way that it becomes an asset rather than a problem,” Robson says.

Additional exhibiting artists include Tom Deininger, Ellen Driscoll, Natalya Khorover, Niki Lederer, Pam Longobardi, Kristyna and Marek Milde, Portia Munson, Studio KCA, Ian Trask, and Tyrome Tripoli. As members of the Project Vortex Collective, their work supports and contributes to efforts to reduce the influx of plastic waste in the environment. Comprising artists, designers, and architects around the globe who are actively intercepting the plastic waste stream as part of our independent practices, Project Vortex is a constantly expanding network. 

Originally from Canada and now based in the Hudson Valley, Robson is a multimedia artist known predominantly for her meditative work intercepting the plastic waste stream. Her practice is about shifting negative trajectories. Her work formally references recurring nightmares that she had as a child, which she hybridizes with organic forms found in nature. Robson holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in visual arts and art history from Columbia University. Her work has been featured in Sculpture Magazine, Art in America, WIRED, Art & Antiques, Green Building + Design, and numerous other publications. She is a recipient of the Pollock Krasner Grant, a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Sculpture, a TED/Lincoln Re-Imagine Prize, and a National Endowment for the Arts Art Work Grant.

“Plasticulture” will be on view at the SVA Chelsea Gallery from Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00am to 6:00pm. The gallery will be closed Thursday, November 28, through Saturday, November 30, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. The gallery is fully accessible by wheelchair.