FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2025
Connective Thread: A new exhibition curated by Michelle Alexander weaves together the collective bonds
and tensions of womanhood at Ivory Gate Gallery
A part of the group exhibition will also be on view at Barely Fair in Chicago
Lauren Seiden, Ultimate Shield (no. 6), 2022, Graphite pencil and mixed mediums on paper, 48 1/2 × 29 x 9 in
Chicago, IL – Artist Michelle Alexander curates the new group exhibition Connective Thread at Ivory Gate Gallery, opening April 25, 2025, in Chicago, IL. The exhibition features Michelle Alexander’s work alongside artists Michelle Grabner, Sam Jaffe, Carmen Neely, Adrianne Rubenstein, and Lauren Seiden. The exhibition is on view April 25 – June 8, 2025, and a part of the exhibition will be on view at Barely Fair, April 22 – May 11, 2025, with a press preview on April 22nd and an opening reception on April 23rd.
Connective Thread illustrates both the intimate and universal aspects of womanhood and collective bonds built through single strands. The exhibition delves into the complexities of the female experience, body, and identity, capturing moments of struggle and triumph as they weave together a collective, tattered narrative. The exhibition aims to reflect the tensions between fragility and resilience, portraying how women navigate the strands of their identities, relationships, and personal journeys. Each work connects to a larger tapestry of experience, allowing viewers to see themselves in the work and be seen.
Connective Thread explores the experiences of the body as well as narratives of strength and vulnerability through a range of approaches, including the more experimental as seen in Alexander’s interdisciplinary work across sculptural works, prints, paintings, photos and multimedia, Sam Jaffe’s playful works made out of recycled yarn and quilt batting, and Lauren Seiden’s sculptures composed of objects like mopheads, crutches, and chains. These works are put in conversation with more traditional reinterpretations of art-making practices like Michelle Grabner’s paintings on burlap, Carmen Neely’s abstract mark-making, and Adrianne Rubenstein’s whimsical paintings.
Exhibiting Artists
Michelle Alexander
Michelle Grabner
Sam Jaffe
Carmen Neely
Adrianne Rubenstein
Lauren Seiden
Exhibition Details
Connective Thread at Barely Fair
Opening April 22, 2025
On view: April 22 – May 11, 2025
McKinley Park neighborhood, Chicago, IL
April 22: Daytime hours for press, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm.
April 23: Daytime hours, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm, and opening night event, 6:00 – 10:00 pm.
Connective Thread Group Exhibition at Ivory Gate Gallery
Opening April 25, 2025
On view: April 25 – June 8, 2025
44 East Cedar Street, Chicago, IL
About Michelle Alexander
Michelle is a Canadian-born artist living and working between Montreal and Chicago. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Miami. Michelle then studied fashion design at Parsons School of Design earning an Associates’ degree in Applied Science. Michelle graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a Master of Fine Arts Degree.
Michelle’s interdisciplinary approach to drawing and extended image practice addresses tension. Her introspective body of work scrutinizes the internal build-up and lingering trauma within the body. Grappling with experiences of the body and the discomfort of fitting into one’s own skin. Her work has been exhibited in galleries at the University of Miami, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Mana Contemporary Chicago, The Current, Stowe, VT, and the Design Museum of Chicago. Michelle is the recent recipient of International Cultural Management’s second prize Artist Art for Peace Award.
Website: https://www.michellealexanderart.com
Instagram: @michelle.alexander.art
About Ivory Gate Gallery
Ivory Gate Gallery was founded in 2023 in Chicago, USA, and expanded to Shanghai in 2024. The name “Ivory Gate” is inspired by Homer’s epic “The Odyssey” symbolizing the intersection of dreams and reality, and metaphorically representing humanity’s exploration of the unknown and pursuit of hope. This spirit resonates with the Chinese philosophical concept of “unity of knowledge and action.” Whether it is Odysseus’s voyage or the Chinese literati’s ideal of “reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles,” both reflect a curiosity about the world and a desire for self-transcendence. Drawing from this inspiration, the gallery is committed to finding resonance and dialogue between Eastern and Western cultures through contemporary art. Shanghai’s lvory Gate Gallery is grounded in China while embracing a global perspective with a focus on high-quality, thought-provoking artistic creations collaborating with both domestic and international artists who possess unique aesthetics that reflect not only the artist’s emotions but also the spirit of the times. With a dual focus on Eastern and Western artistic and humanistic concerns, Shanghai’s lvory Gate Gallery aims to build an open international art ecosystem, promoting innovative practices in local art within the context of global contemporary art trends. Within the lvory Gate, the power of art transcends geographical and cultural barriers, creating a space where East and West converge, and serving as a bridge connecting the world to the future.
Website: http://www.ivorygategallery.com
Instagram: @ivory_gate_gallery