GALLERY | $5-10 SUGGESTED DONATION | ALL AGES | In this series of densely hand-quilted fabric paintings, Udita Upadhyaya investigates her lineage (including the absence of and possible rupture) between craft, language, and storytelling. Engaging intimately with found and worn fabrics, sourced from her grandmother’s tailor in Mumbai, Upadhyaya simultaneously makes room for nagging grief and spontaneous bursts of joy. Her process ranges from slow and meditative stitching to energetic color ways and fervent writing.
The text and textile works attend to intergenerational longing and disconnection. Her body and its stories are at the center of the quilts. Her objects are surrogate bodies, allowing themselves to be held and providing holding. They explore personal and collective histories, bringing to the forefront both circular memories and illegible, innate stories.
Udita Upadhyaya is an interdisciplinary artist, educator, and full spectrum birthworker, She obtained her Masters in Fine Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she has also lectured. Her work spans live art, devised theatre, performative photographs, sculpture, installation, video, writing, text, and fiber arts.
Upadhyaya’s practice is rooted in the wisdom of the body. It is built by asking piercing questions and engaging in deep listening in pursuit of intimacy and connection. Her artistic explorations include a study of global cultures and an uncovering of personal and collective histories, ignited by the passion to transcend cultural, social and gender binaries. Upadhyaya has performed and exhibited work at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Chicago, Smart Museum of Art, Hyde Park Art Center, Villa Teresa Decorative Arts Museum, and Links Hall. Her artist book of scores, nevernotmusic, was acquired by the Joan Flash Artist Book Collection, and University of Chicago’s Rare Books Collection, among others. Upadhyaya’s work has been written about in publications such as Chicago Reader, Hyperallergic, Art India, Art Asia Pacific and more. Upadhyaya lives and works between Chicago and Los Angeles.
COVID-19 vaccination is highly recommended to attend events at Junior High. Learn more here.
This event will be indoors.