Unfamiliar Patterns
An exhibition from the acclaimed painter Eleanor Spiess-Ferris and NYC-based sculptor, Michael Ferris. This mother and son duo are exhibiting a series of work exploring themes of identity and cultural tapestry.
Eleanor Spiess Ferris paints storybook-like scenes with ethereal beauty and enigmatic references. She brings her unique treatment of paint to a new series of gouache paintings, making this a rare collection of work from an artist whose work lives in museums and institutions across the U.S.
Michael Ferris carries his large-scale sculptures into the show: massive wooden busts depicting people he knows, each covered with cascading patterns hewn into the wood grain through a wood intarsia method. Alongside his mother’s work, Michael Ferris’s sculptures respond with a shared history, and make references to his own Lebanese heritage.
Unfamiliar Patterns explores the genealogical concert of inheritance, legacy, and the imprint of the artist passed down through relationships, time, and the action of creation.
November 6, 2026 to December 12, 2026
Opening Reception: Friday November 6, 5:30 to 8:00 pm.
In View 2027
The Art Center’s annual members and faculty show.
December 18, 2026 to January 29, 2027