Pocket Utopia presents
November 18 - December 22, 2024
Opening Reception: Monday, November 18, 6 PM - 8 PM
Artist Talks: XY Zhou in conversation on Sunday, December 15, at 3 PM
Laurel Lueders, a curatorial conversation with Shayan Nazarian, TBA
Fukuko Harris, private studio tour Sunday, December 15, 4 PM sharp
"Underfoot and Overtones: Fragments in Form and Spectrum" combines the grounded, tactile works of XY Zhou, Laurel Lueders, and Fukuko Harris in a compelling exploration of materiality, form, and spectral color. The exhibition will open at Pocket Utopia on November 18 and run through December 22.This exhibition juxtaposes three distinctive artistic practices rooted in different mediums that resonate in their shared exploration of the body, perception, and the interplay between intimate detail and sweeping abstraction. At the heart of this show is a dialogue between these works—a conversation on grounding and the broader overtones each piece carries beyond its form.
In "Underfoot and Overtones," the artists' use of form, texture, and color addresses themes of grounding and transcendence. The ceramic feet of Zhou, the vibrant prints of Lueders, and the earthy sculptural forms of Harris create a setting that invites viewers to contemplate how we inhabit art's physical and symbolic realms.
Also, in Pocket Utopia's "Annex," the second in a series of installations by Traci Johnson, where they present their bold hook-rugged textile work, embodying a surge of pink, raw power, and an infectious sense of joy. Traci's piece radiates a spirit of radical self-expression, inviting viewers into a moment of "crazy power" that pulses with color, texture, and positivity; see for yourself!
Fukuko Harris, born and raised in Tokyo, holds an MFA from The New York Studio School and has exhibited her work widely, including at Marquee Project Gallery, Salon Zürcher, and High Noon Gallery. Her richly textured sculptural works reflect her global experiences, including residencies in France and awards like the Hohenberg Travel Grant. Harris currently lives and works in New York City and Montauk.
Laurel Lueders' abstract photographs, printed as vivid pigment prints, introduce a dynamic counterpoint, extending the conversation of grounding to one of fluidity and movement. Experimenting with camera settings and deliberate motion, Lueders creates vibrant abstractions that transform light and color into dynamic, painterly compositions. Lueders holds an MFA in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts (SVA) and divides her time between New York City and Berlin/Potsdam, Germany. Her work has been widely exhibited both in the U.S. and internationally.
XY Zhou, born in 2002, is a visual artist based in New York City whose practice spans writing, painting, ceramics, textiles, and sculpture. A graduate of NYU Gallatin, where they studied "Translations Between Mediums," Zhou delves into heritage and the duality of cultural tradition, exploring themes of mythology and the body. Their work has been exhibited in Manhattan and abroad.
Traci Johnson was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, specializing in textile design, installation, and sculpture. Their art emerges from the intersections of mental health, art, and fashion as therapeutic subcultures. Johnson is a Fashion Institute of Technology graduate majoring in Fine Arts with a minor in Art History.
The opening reception will be held on November 18 from 6 PM to 8 PM, and there will be a series of artist talks and tours throughout the exhibition.
