The Pratt Manhattan Gallery is currently hosting the final stop of the nationally touring exhibition, “RugLife.” Curated by Ginger Gregg Duggan and Judith Hoos Fox of c2-curatorsquared, the show features works by 14 contemporary artists who use rugs as a medium to address cultural issues such as religion, technology, social justice, housing, and the environment. These artists, hailing from various parts of the world, employ a range of materials and techniques to transform the traditional rug into a platform for experimentation and innovation.
One of the featured artists, Oksana Levchenya from Ukraine, combines traditional carpet weaving techniques with contemporary imagery in her work. In pieces like “Pac-Man and Cossacks,” Levchenya blends folk ornamentation with pop culture references to create visually striking and thought-provoking pieces that explore cultural symbols and icons.
Sonya Clark, another artist in the exhibition, uses Black vernacular hair design and cultural symbolism in her rug sculptures. In her piece “Comb Carpet,” Clark constructs a carpet using hundreds of black plastic combs, symbolizing cultural identity and challenging stereotypes associated with race and hair.
The exhibition also delves into themes of space and displacement, as seen in Ali Cha’aban’s “Grandpa’s Monobloc.” By covering a standard white plastic chair with carpet, Cha’aban addresses Arab identity and the experience of displacement, turning a mundane object into a powerful statement on cultural materiality.
Environmental and political concerns are also addressed in the exhibition, with artists like Ai Weiwei creating pieces that draw attention to issues like wildlife conservation. Weiwei’s “Tyger,” commissioned for the Tomorrow’s Tigers project in support of the World Wildlife Fund, reinterprets the traditional Tibetan tiger rug to raise awareness about the dwindling population of tigers in the wild.
Featuring a diverse lineup of artists including Ai Weiwei, Sonya Clark, and Slavs & Tatars, “RugLife” offers a unique perspective on the role of rugs in contemporary art and society. The exhibition will be on display at Pratt Manhattan Gallery until May 23, 2026, with a public reception scheduled for February 5. For more information, visit the Pratt Manhattan Gallery website.
