Connective Thread

The opening reception of the group exhibition Connective Thread, curated by Michelle Alexander, at Ivory Gate Gallery

44 E Cedar St

Please join us for the opening reception of Connective Thread , a group exhibition curated by Michelle Alexander at Ivory Gate Gallery, opening April 25, 2025, 5:00 - 9:00 PM in Chicago, IL. The exhibition features works by artists Michelle Alexander, Michelle Grabner, Sam Jaffe, Carmen Neely, Adrianne Rubenstein, and Lauren Seiden. The exhibition will be on view April 25 – June 8, 2025.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<a href="https://www.michellealexanderart.com/" title="https://www.michellealexanderart.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Michelle Alexander</a> <a href="https://www.michellegrabner.com/" title="https://www.michellegrabner.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Michelle Grabner</a> <a href="http://www.thesamjaffe.com/" title="http://www.thesamjaffe.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Sam Jaffe</a> <a href="https://marianeibrahim.com/artists/69-carmen-neely/" title="https://marianeibrahim.com/artists/69-carmen-neely/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Carmen Neely</a> <a href="http://www.adriannerubenstein.ca/" title="http://www.adriannerubenstein.ca/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Adrianne Rubenstein</a> <a href="https://www.laurenseiden.com/" title="https://www.laurenseiden.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Lauren Seiden</a> Exhibition DetailsConnective Thread at Ivory Gate Gallery Opening: April 25, 2025 On view: April 25 – June 8, 2025 44 East Cedar Street, Chicago, IL

About Michelle AlexanderMichelle 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: <a href="https://www.michellealexanderart.com/" title="https://www.michellealexanderart.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.michellealexanderart.com</a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/michelle.alexander.art/" title="https://www.instagram.com/michelle.alexander.art/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">@michelle.alexander.art</a> About Ivory Gate GalleryIvory 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: <a href="http://www.ivorygategallery.com/" title="http://www.ivorygategallery.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">http://www.ivorygategallery.com</a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ivory_gate_gallery/" title="https://www.instagram.com/ivory_gate_gallery/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">@ivory_gate_gallery</a>

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