Exhibitions

Current Exhibitions

Derived from the Decorative: Works by Faig Ahmed, Beth Lipman and Bouke de Vries

February 1, 2019 – June 9, 2019

Cheekwood is pleased to present an exhibition featuring work by Faig Ahmed (Baku, Azerbaijan), Beth Lipman (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), and Bouke de Vries (Utrecht, the Netherlands). The exhibition consists of artists who take cues from decorative arts traditions yet invert the precepts by blurring the space between functional forms and art forms. The exhibition celebrates the work of a national and international group of artists who look at traditional decorative arts as a point of departure for contemporary creations. The artists in this show challenge the idea of historically informed notions of craft and provide a contemporary entry point into the space between fine and decorative art. Through recognizable visual traditions, the works destabilize perceptions of the familiar. Integrating traditional fabrication methods along with digital contributions, the exhibition presents works that embrace a wide spectrum of time.

Bouke de Vries, Peacock I, 2015. Ceramic. Courtesy of Ferrin Contemporary.

Sponsored By  

In Bloom: Works from Cheekwood’s Permanent Collection

March 21, 2019 – September 1, 2019

Whether through the rich symbolism of renewal or decay, love or hardship, florals have been captured by creatives since the beginning of art history. Botanicals hold a particularly apt place at Cheekwood. In Bloom: Works from Cheekwood’s Permanent Collection features works that explore the subject of flowers. Through this exhibition, the botanical experience extends beyond Cheekwood’s historic gardens into its galleries.

In Bloom also features work from Cheekwood’s biannual program Cheekwood ED: Extended Dialogues. Through a collaboration with Tony Perrin, Adjunct Instructor, three students studying Fashion Design and Merchandising at O’More College of Design at Belmont University were asked to chose works from the show and respond in the form of a garment. Samantha Erlington (’21), Amy May (’21) and Justice Ybarra (’21) are producing one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by works by Jean MacLane, Georgia O’Keeffe, Martha Walter. The garments are on view in the exhibition galleries.

Pauline Palmer, Family Gathering, 1919. Oil on canvas. Gift of the 1988 Collectors’ Group
with matching funds through the bequest of Anita Bevill McMichael Stallworth. 1988.16.

Storybook Houses

May 1, 2019 – September 1, 2019

Step Into the Story

Experience the magic of five of your favorite childhood classics reimagined in Cheekwood’s gardens. Visitors of all ages will enjoy these whimsical playhouses inspired by beloved illustrators including “Oh, The Places You’ll Play” inspired by Dr. Seuss, “Hill Top Garden” inspired by Beatrix Potter, “Charlotte’s Barn” inspired by Garth Williams, “We Are Wild” inspired by Maurice Sendak, and “TRAINS!” inspired by Loren Long.

Upcoming Exhibitions

Diana Al-Hadid: Sublimations

May 24, 2019 – September 1, 2019

In collaboration with the Frist Art Museum, Cheekwood presents two large scale, outdoor works by Syrian-born, American artist Diana Al-Hadid. Influenced by a wide range of sources, including art, history, and literature of both Western and Eastern traditions, Islamic calligraphy, ancient architecture, and cartography, Al-Hadid creates impressionistic meditations on ruination and renewal.

At the Frist and Cheekwood are selections from Al-Hadid’s installation Delirious Matter, organized by the Madison Square Park Conservancy for Madison Square Park in New York. The principal sculptures from that installation—at the Frist, Gradiva and Synonym, and at Cheekwood, The Grotto and Citadel—deal with feminine images taken from art history, myth, literature, and fictional female characters.Such sculptures merge the human body with architecture and nature. At Cheekwood, Citadel takes Hans Memling’s Allegory of Chastity (ca. 1475), showing a woman enthroned or imprisoned within a mountain and guarded by fierce lions as a point of departure.

Image courtesy of the artist and Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York and Aspen. © Diana Al-Hadid. Photo credit: Object Studies.

Childhood Classics: 100 Years of Children’s Book Illustrations

From the Art Kandy Collection

Curated by Lee Cohen & Lois Sarkisian

Organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions

June 22, 2019 – September 1, 2019

With over 140 original works included from over 75 books, Childhood Classics explores the history of children’s books from the turn of the century pen and ink Mother Goose art of Sarah Noble Ives, to the most popular works of today including the digital creations of Mo Willems. The exhibition features the original art of Dr. Seuss, the iconic Wild Things of Maurice Sendak and the perennial heroism of Garth Williams’ Stuart Little. Among the many classic illustrators featured are Rosemary Wells, Richard Scarry, Chris Van Allsburg and Hilary Knight. Fondly remembered characters of literature include Babar, Eloise, Madeline, the Cat in the Hat and Dick & Jane. Extensive wall labels illuminate the works.

Sponsored By    

2019 Martin Shallenberger Artist-in-Residence Visceral Vistas: David Brooks

September 19, 2019 – January 5, 2020

A 2019-2020 recipient of the prestigious Rome Prize, David Brooks is an American artist, based in New York City. Brooks creates works that explore the relationship between the natural and built worlds. As the 2019 Martin Shallenberger Artist-in-Residence, Brooks will present the expansive vistas of Cheekwood’s historic estate from the point of view of the Cheek family residence. Brooks has had solo exhibitions at Governors Island, The Alrich Contemporary Art Museum, Storm King Art Center, Socrates Sculpture Park and selected group shows at MoMA PS1. Brooks received his BFA from The Cooper Union School of Art and his MFA from Columbia University School of the Arts.

David Brooks, A Proverbial Machine in the Garden, 2013.
Dynahoe tractor, concrete, earth, landscaping and steel grates.
Image from Storm King Art Center.