Art Review: Michelle Segre’s Impermanent Worlds
Since my initial review of Michelle Segre’s art in 2014, I have witnessed her fascination with cosmic phenomena, such as nebulae, deepen as she continues to explore unconventional materials like colored yarn, dried mushrooms, and decaying bread. What I failed to fully grasp at that time was the way in which her innovative creations challenge traditional boundaries separating objects from images and sculpture from painting. By blurring these distinctions, Segre has carved out a unique artistic space that is as intellectually engaging as it is visually compelling.
This realization struck me anew when I recently visited Segre’s latest exhibition, titled “Nebula,” at the Derek Eller Gallery. The centerpiece of the show is a single, predominantly bright red object that demands close examination from all angles. As I stood before “Nebula” (2025), I found myself circling it like a dancer around a maypole, drawn in by its magnetic presence.
The artwork consists of a flat, amorphous form that evokes a thought bubble, an enigmatic landmass, or a fiery plume ascending into the heavens, perched atop a vertical concrete pedestal. Crafted from reddish acrylic polymer, the shape is delicately outlined by steel wire, with a fringe of red yarn cascading down to the floor. The yarn transforms into soft, fiery lines that serve as a threshold, separating one world from another. Embedded within the central form is a spiraling wire, around which long strands of black thread intertwine to create intricate linear clusters. The piece seamlessly merges two and three dimensions, with an open shape emerging from the cement base and a solid, fiery red surface suspended within it, encircled by the yarn’s tangible lines.
Segre’s masterful use of color is evident in the shifting hues of the acrylic polymer, ranging from orange to crimson. One of the most striking aspects of her work is the unexpected associations it evokes. As I pondered the abstract shape before me, I noticed a clump of brown sheep fleece intertwined with the red yarn. This juxtaposition of materials – fleece symbolizing transformation and birth, and yarn symbolizing destruction – adds layers of complexity to the artwork.
By incorporating impermanent materials into her creations, Segre embraces the transient nature of the physical world. Her pieces are not static entities but living organisms that respond to the passage of time. In contrast to the enduring works of artists like Jeff Koons, Segre’s art is a testament to the ever-changing nature of existence.
“Michelle Segre: Nebula” is on display at the Derek Eller Gallery in Tribeca until February 14. This thought-provoking exhibition invites viewers to contemplate the impermanence of life and the beauty of transformation through Segre’s innovative use of materials and forms.
