Fugue Gallery's 'Forbidden Fruit' Blurs Art and Environment in Chinatown

Fugue Gallery's new Chinatown space at 132 Mulberry St, 4C, New York, opened with the group show 'Forbidden Fruit,' featuring 16 artists. The exhibition, on view through August 21, 2026, is conceived as a Gesamtkunstwerk where every element—curtains, speakers, lamps, candles, and table—is part of the artwork. Curtains by Danielle Gadus (Daybreak) emit coffee grounds scent, and a custom speaker system by Otis Gordon plays ambient sounds. Notable works include Justin Wood's oil paintings 'Purple Grapes' and 'Rotting Apple,' referencing Rachel Ruysch and Caravaggio; Alexa Huang's 'Rehearsal for a Forgotten Tableau,' evoking Cecily Brown and Tiepolo; and Vincent Sachtler's kinetic sculpture 'Comarum palustre,' reminiscent of Dan Flavin and Olafur Eliasson. The show also includes David Zheng's silver gelatin prints and Valentina Benaglio's 'In Search of Eden.' Events such as sound baths and live performances have accompanied the exhibition. Will Maddoxx contributed the review.