Rita Ackermann's The Chemical Alphabet Opens at Hauser & Wirth Soho

On display at Hauser & Wirth's gallery located at 134 Wooster Street in Soho, Rita Ackermann's The Chemical Alphabet features paintings from her ongoing series inspired by Semitic letters. This exhibition runs from September 9 to October 17, 2026. Ackermann, a Budapest native born in 1968 and a New York resident since 1992, employs a technique referred to by the gallery as her chalkboard method. This involves using acrylic green chalkboard paint on canvases layered with various silkscreen prints, followed by pastel and chalk drawings that are continuously erased and redrawn. The act of erasure transforms the relationships between the remaining marks, rather than simply creating a blank slate. The letter acts as a central element amidst a chaotic array of marks, leading to images that defy traditional interpretation. Featured works include Boy Let Dog Out (2026), Sweet Disposition (2026), and Silent Type (2025). Ackermann’s artistic approach, shaped by influences such as Jean-Luc Godard's films, delves into themes of fragmentation and the transient nature of images. The gallery welcomes visitors from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., free of charge.