Kim Dacres Transforms Worn Rubber into Defiant Sculptural Portraits at Charles Moffett

Kim Dacres, a New York-based artist, repurposes discarded auto and bicycle rubber into expressive sculptural portraits. Her solo exhibition 'Lost on a Two Way Street' at Charles Moffett in New York runs from May 7 to June 20, 2026. The show extends her series of celebratory busts honoring personal inspirations, now adding flat wall works reminiscent of Victorian cameos. Dacres twists and braids tired treads into Black hairstyles like buns and rows, embellished with gear-like crowns and metal bike chain jewelry. She spray-paints the material to mask marks, transforming waste into bold visages. The exhibition also features works reinterpreting the U.S. flag, replacing stars with Black and brown figures and fraying stripes to critique the symbol's unfulfilled promise. A gallery statement notes the emphasis on buns and braiding underscores the effort required to maintain appearances in harsh environments, acknowledging the role of Dacres' community in her mental health.