2/22-2/28

This week: Network with fellow creatives over light bites, explore how textiles can express global equine cultures, and more.

This Week

William Kentridge: Vertical Thinking [Exhibition] February 22-March 21 | Gallery Neptune & Brown | FREE

Born in Johannesburg to anti-apartheid lawyers, William Kentridge has spent over fifty years making prints using a wide range of techniques, all of which are showcased within this exhibition. Kentridge’s focus has been on the inequities of the contemporary world, stemming from South Africa’s apartheid history and continuing with subjects drawn from politics and identity. His art speaks to universal struggles of freedom and loss. His work is in permanent collections at the National Gallery of Art, Hirshhorn, MoMA, and the Met. More Info

Icebreaker Winter Networking Social for Creatives [Networking Event] February 25, 5:30-7:30 PM | Steadfast Supply | FREE

This is your chance to connect with your fellow local creatives. DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities is hosting a casual networking evening for artists at Steadfast Supply, the award-winning Navy Yard gift shop supporting independent makers and designers. Complimentary light bites included. Register

Cotsen Textile Traces Roundtable: Global Equine Cultures [Virtual Roundtable] February 26-27, 10 AM | Online | FREE

Complementing the spring exhibition Adorning the Horse: Equestrian Textiles for Power and Prestige, this two-day virtual roundtable brings together artists, scholars, and experts to explore the cultural history of horses as expressed through textiles. The global panel presents new research offering perspectives from Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, and beyond. Presenters include Sandra L. Olsen, a zooarchaeologist specializing in horse domestication and ancient breeds, Alejandro de Ávila Blomberg from the Oaxaca Textile Museum, and Netherlands-based artist Marianne Kemp. Register

Looking Ahead

Artist Talk: Arlene Shechet [Artist Talk] March 12, 6:30 PM | Hirshhorn Museum | FREE

Sculptor Arlene Shechet joins curator Anne Reeve to celebrate the installation of her sculpture Maiden May (2023) on the Hirshhorn Plaza. They’ll discuss the work’s origins and evolution, created for the landmark 2024 exhibition Girl Group at Storm King Art Center. The piece offers insight into Shechet’s ceramics practice and her expansion into large-scale metalwork, while testifying to her longstanding interest in examining art history, gender, and humor. Tickets will likely go fast. Register