Opening reception: Lisa Anne Auerbach: Sweater Parade

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC | For more than 25 years, artist Lisa Anne Auerbach has been knitting sweaters emblazoned with slogans, quotes and catchphrases that document her experience, reflect on history and respond to political events. Usdan Gallery is proud to present Sweater Parade, the first survey of this celebrated body of work. The exhibition centers the variety of Auerbach’s knitted apparel and contextualizes it within the breadth of a unique practice rooted in self-publishing, punk rebellion and DIY activism. Featured works include dozens of densely patterned, text-covered garments arranged in parade formation across the gallery; a series of some 250 text paintings expressing outrage and urging activism during the Trump Administration; and a book room inviting visitors to explore the artist’s numerous publications. The abundance of knitted, painted, and printed text creates a cacophonous timeline—from U.S. presidential eras as far back as Thomas Jefferson thorough events as current as Britney Spears and COVID-19—and a call-and-response of messages that echo across history. “Sweater Parade” highlights the pointed humor and urgent seriousness of Auerbach’s work—her critique of modes of inquiry and expressions of ideology, her curiosity about magical thinking versus practical action, and her innovative consideration of the body as a portable site for display.