Decorative arts have been an intrinsic part of the human experience. Across cultures and time, people have felt a deep desire to embellish the spaces they inhabit to tell stories, assert identity, and infuse interiors with life. At the heart of decorative art lies craftsmanship and functionality: the intersection where artists and makers create everyday objects that are visually enthralling and serve a purpose.
In Bespoke Matter, five artists challenge and expand these defi nitions; they explore traditional decorative arts through untraditional lenses. Their work poses a compelling question: What happens when an object is no longer functional? Including pieces representing furniture, wallpaper, decorative plates, porcelain vessels, and tapestry, Philadelphia-based artists Sophie Glenn, Leslie A. Grossman, Elizabeth Hamilton, Leah Kaplan, and Lisa Marie Patzer push the boundaries of craft, decorative arts, and traditional mediums.