Seymour H. Knox Building
M&T Bank Gallery

With fabric, weaving, embroidery, and other related materials, the fifteen artists in That Which Binds Us reflect on what connects us and the experiences we share. This exhibition gestures towards a world in which practices that were once the province of domestic labor, women, and leisure pastimes eclipse our desire for digital experiences. Instead, contemporary life is brought to the forefront in a rich tapestry of tradition, identity, history, and culture.

While some of the artists in That Which Binds Us manifest a personal connection to the medium, others consider themes that can provoke challenging conversations about the world around us. With artists from places as far-flung as Japan, Mexico, and Denmark, to Lynchburg, Virginia, and Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico, there are many stories to be discovered in these works and even more to be learned in exploring the personal and social circumstances that have conditioned them. The ways these artists unconventionally employ the handmade, crafted, and upcycled serve as meditations on memory and the complexity of human relationships. These works address the question:

How do we carry experiences with us and hand them down through material culture?

Featuring art by Ryoko Aoki, Kevin Beasley, Pia Camil, Aiko Hachisuka, Sergei Jensen, Ann Greene Kelly, Gabriel Kuri, Charles LeDray, Britta Marakatt-Labba, Joiri Minaya, Jordan Nassar, Rose B. Simpson, Meredyth Sparks, Eduardo Terrazas, and Benji Whalen, That Which Binds Us is drawn entirely from recently acquired works of art in the museum’s collection.

The Buffalo AKG has an active acquisitions program through which it continually grows the collection, seeking out works of art representing the most influential voices of twenty-first century contemporary art. While these acquisitions will often find their way into the permanent collection galleries or special exhibitions, the museum’s goal is also to find ways to highlight them through thematic, spotlight presentations.