Lauren Karazija Curates 'Remixed' at Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Exploring Memory and Material

Curator Lauren Karazija organized 'Remixed: Entwined Histories and New Forms' at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, on view from 22 February to 30 August 2026. The exhibition features artists who engage with quilting, textiles, and other materials to challenge divisions between craft and fine art. Karazija conceived the show around the metaphor of a quilt, bringing together disparate works in an intimate gallery to foster dialogue. Artists include Candice Lin, Shinique Smith, Porfirio Gutiérrez, Sabrina Gschwandtner, Adia Millett, Jeffrey Gibson, Wendy Red Star, Anthony Olubunmi Akinbola, Maia Ruth Lee, Basil Kincaid, and Jeffrey Sincich. Key themes include indigo dye's colonial history, Zapotec dyeing techniques, and the Gee's Bend quilting community. The exhibition highlights how artists remix inherited traditions, with works like Gutiérrez's 'Desde Otra Mirada' (2023) and Smith's 'gathering stars' (2025). Karazija's curatorial approach draws on Édouard Glissant's philosophy of opacity and emphasizes listening to materials. The show includes a performance series by Smith and a bench by Sincich inviting contemplation. 'Remixed' argues that tradition is living and adaptable, as seen in Gibson's fluorescent quilt and Red Star's star quilt. The exhibition underscores the politics of artistic value and the importance of collective memory.