Melora Kuhn Removes Male Figures from Rape Narratives at Private Public Gallery

Melora Kuhn's exhibition "The Legacy of Disembodiment" at Private Public Gallery in Hudson, NY, through August 9, 2026, confronts the dilemma of presenting canonical works with the word "rape" in their titles to contemporary audiences. Kuhn appropriates art historical depictions of rape, surgically removing violent male protagonists to allow other emotional and formal ideas to emerge. Her monumental canvases include a diptych pairing a volcanic eruption with Sebastiano Ricci's "The Rape of the Sabine Women," from which she removes bodies, leaving swirling draperies. The centerpiece is a full-scale sculptural reinterpretation of Bernini's "The Rape of Persephone" in temporary materials, redirecting focus to Persephone's interior life. A small cement bust of Demeter crowned with dried goldenrod embodies maternal grief. Kuhn's project reflects admiration for the European tradition while transforming myths into psychological landscapes. The exhibition is reviewed by Bill Arning, a curator and critic based in Old Chatham, New York.