Sable Elyse Smith Deconstructs Carceral Logic at The Contemporary Austin

Sable Elyse Smith's 'Clockwork,' marking her largest institutional exhibition to date and her inaugural solo show in Texas, is currently on display at The Contemporary Austin – Jones Center until August 2, 2026. This exhibition employs neon, video, sculpture, and painting to highlight the underlying violence present in the American carceral system. Smith has been awarded the Suzanne Deal Booth / FLAG Art Foundation Prize for 2026. Following its run in Austin, the exhibition will move to the FLAG Foundation in New York. The first floor showcases a playful atmosphere with pieces from her 'Coloring Book Series,' which critiques a children's coloring book on the justice system through repetitive, energetic mark-making. Additionally, two newly commissioned video works combine archival footage, bodycam recordings, and Travis Scott's 'GATTI' to examine the repetitive nature of media violence. Upstairs, sculptures such as 'Clockwork' (a ferris wheel constructed from prison furniture) and 'Gravity' (a cross-shaped piece) evoke a sense of embodied liminality. The title of the exhibition alludes to both mechanical and temporal themes, reflecting the relentless cycle of systemic oppression. Smith's minimalist sculptures and clever wordplay, including the series 'Young Thug I, II, III,' merge humor with social critique. Glasstire provided a review of the exhibition.