Eric N. Mack, There is No Other Way, 2022, silk and wool scarves, cotton apron, Irish linen, rope, ribbon, polyester, felt, cotton shirt, and wool, 128 x 88 in. (325.1 x 223.5 cm). © Eric N. Mack. Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.
An investigation into abstraction and the ways painting can offer fertile ground for experimentation converge in Eric N. Mack’s work. He collapses distinctions between art forms and materials—between textiles and painting, sculpture and fashion—to create a unique visual vocabulary. He explores fabric’s ability to evoke emotional responses, something that he emphasizes in the titles of his works and the title of this exhibition, All the Oohs, and the Aahs, which acknowledges the spectator’s gaze.
On occasion of the exhibition, the Wexner commissioned Mack to create the site-specific installation A Whole New Thing, which is on view in the lobby. The work activates the lobby, staircase, and café areas, furthering the artist’s engagement with the architecture of these public spaces. The commission will remain on view until May 24, 2026.