Debbie Lawson's Persian carpet predators emerge in New York
Debbie Lawson, a British multimedia artist, showcases her latest creations in a solo exhibition titled "In a Cowslip's Bell I Lie" at Sargent's Daughters. This marks her second solo show at the gallery and represents her most extensive exhibition in the United States thus far. Lawson's life-sized sculptures of animals—such as bears, cougars, wild dogs, and monkeys—seem to rise from Persian carpets, utilizing a trompe-l'oeil technique. Each piece is constructed with wire and masking tape armatures, finished in Jesmonite resin, and adorned with intricately cut carpet patterns for a flawless appearance. Some figures interact with furniture or rugs, aligning patterns to enhance the illusion, prompting reflections on the connections between nature, decoration, craft, and camouflage.
Key facts
- Sargent's Daughters is presenting the exhibition
- Exhibition title: 'In a Cowslip's Bell I Lie'
- Debbie Lawson is a British multimedia artist
- This is her second solo with the gallery
- This is her largest exhibition in the United States to date
- Sculptures depict life-sized animals: bears, cougars, wild dogs, monkeys
- Animals emerge from Persian carpets using trompe-l'oeil effect
- Sculptures use wire and masking tape armature, finished in Jesmonite resin
- Each creature is covered with patterned carpet cut and pieced for seamless surface
- Some animals sit on or emerge from furniture or rugs
- Patterns are precisely aligned to create illusion of continuous surface
- Work explores relationships between decoration and nature, craft and camouflage
Entities
Artists
- Debbie Lawson
Institutions
- Sargent's Daughters
Locations
- New York
- United States