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Sculpture Month Houston’s ninth annual exhibition, "Re-Figurations," at Site Gallery Houston at The Silos at Sawyer Yards explores the radical transformations in the representation of the human figure that began with Modernism.The exhibition is curated by Volker Eisele. The participating artists include Victor Calise Blanchard, Elizabeth Chapin, Celia Eberle, Dave Greber, Clara Hoag, Iva Kinnaird, Dion Laurent, Tala Madani, Jack Massing, Patrick Medrano, McKay Otto, Emily Peacock / Patrick Renner, Jonathan Read, Chris Sauter, James Sullivan, Kamila Szczesna, and Nestor Topchy. On view through November 22, 2025.
Cubism radically redefined figurative concepts. "Picasso reinvented anatomy," lamented a mid-century MoMA curator. The deconstruction, fragmentation, and subsequent reconstruction of the human form became an emblem of a world in upheaval, symbolizing existential insecurity and the modern condition itself.
The eighteen artists in this exhibition present a wide range of installations that investigate new approaches to the figure, often pushing the outer limits of re-figurations. They are trying to formulate visual metaphors for the pressing issues of our time. The digital revolution and its powerful tools have expanded artistic possibilities and broadened the exploration of new subjects.
The earliest known artwork, the 40,000-year-old "Lion-Man" figurine from southern Germany, depicts a creature with a human body and a lion’s head. This re-figured human form marks the beginning of humanity’s long tradition of visionary imagery: chimera, cyborgs, bio-robots, and other avatars of our imagination.
One of today’s most consequential developments is the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence and the biosciences in reshaping social norms and even human evolution. Along with the excitement over their fabulous promises, there is growing unease about the implications if one considers the manipulation of the human genome or new human-machine interfaces. The convenience of AI services such as ChatGPT or Grok masks a Faustian bargain: as we outsource cognitive, emotional, and creative functions, we risk becoming true chimeras — hybrids of human and machine.
Special thanks to our sponsors: City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, Sawyer Yards, German Center Houston, and PaperCity Magazine.
Image information: Celia Eberle, “She”, commissioned and produced by Artpace San Antonio
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Silos at Sawyer Yards, Houston, United States
