Sheila Hicks presents new works At Sikkema Jenkins & Co gallery in New York

Works of complexity, as seen at Co's new exhibition in New York

Despite being in her ninth decade, Sheila Hicks continues to produce works of complexity, as seen at Sikkema Jenkins & Co’s new exhibition in New York

(Image credit: Photography courtesy of Sikkema Jenkins & Co)

By Brook Mason

published 23 October 2015

Few artists entering their ninth decade can claim to have their work celebrated at four different venues from here to Espace Louis Vuitton in Munich, the Contemporary Art Museum St Louis and Davis & Langdale simultaneously. Far more than fifty solo exhibitions over the past 20 years celebrate Hick’s distinctive oeuvre in which she weaves wondrous works that cross over into sculpture, installation art and design as well. Now the Chelsea gallery Sikkima Jenkins & Co. (opens in new tab) in New York is presenting ‘Sheila Hicks’, which features 26 examples spanning the past seven years.

Hicks has reconfigured her acclaimed piece,The Treaty of Chromatic Zones, a monumental bas-relief of towering bamboo poles wrapped, twisted and stacked with linen and silk yarn in vibrant hues of turquoise, magenta, lavender and tobacco brown - some embedded with slivers of slate - which she showed at Art Basel this June. Her 2014 Almost 150 Delegates at the Treaty Table consists of 147 poles stretching ten feet wide.

‘For over 50 years Sheila has constantly explored new ways of interpreting woven materials,’ says Brent Sikkema. ‘While nearly unrecognizable now, her White River (Fleuve Blanc) from 2013 started as yards and yards of simple rope. But through a simple –yet labor intensive - alteration and hanging the material from the ceiling, she has created this magnificent cascading sculpture,’ he adds.

Also on view are Hicks’ intimately scaled hand-woven works created continuously over the entirety of her career, which she refers to as minimes. Frequently produced on small hand held looms, which she routinely carries on jets crisscrossing the Atlantic and on to China, her minimes reflect the same level of intrigue.

A monumental bas-relief of towering bamboo poles wrapped and stacked with linen and silk — One of the show's highlights include Hicks' reconfiguration of her acclaimed piece,*The Treaty of Chromatic Zones*, a monumental bas-relief of towering bamboo poles wrapped and stacked with linen and silk yarn in hues of turquoise, magenta, lavender and tobacco brown that was first shown at Art Basel this June

Sheila Hicks shows no signs of slowing with new works — The gallery's show features 24 pieces by Hicks of varying scales

New ways of interpreting woven materials — For over 50 years Sheila has constantly explored new ways of interpreting woven materials,’ says Brent Sikkema

Intimately scaled hand-woven works — Also on view are Hicks’ intimately scaled hand-woven works, which she refers to as *minimes* and creates on small hand held looms

INFORMATION

‘Sheila Hicks’ is on view at Sikkema Jenkins & Co (opens in new tab) until 28 November

Photography courtesy of Sikkema Jenkins & Co

ADDRESS

530 West 22nd Street
New York

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TOPICS

Sculpture