Rachelle Gardner-Roe, “Garden Child”
The Albrecht-Kemper Museum is excited to be the site of the first solo exhibition from Kansas City artist Rachelle Gardner-Roe. Our Very Nature blends fiber, sculpture, poetry, and painting to remind viewers that humanity is not merely an observer of nature but also a part of nature. The lush colors and layered compositions of her work encourage audiences to explore the complicated world of nature and consider their
role in it.
Gardner-Roe has a background in design, including a Bachelor of Interior Architecture from Kansas State University. Her exploration of sculpture grew from these studies, while her love of fiber as a medium has its roots in the sheep raised on her family’s farm in rural Missouri. She has received commissions for public and private projects, including a piece at the new Kansas City International Airport, and has exhibited regionally and nationally.
The core of Gardner-Roe’s artistic practice is drawing. Her sculptural pieces are created with a 3-D pen drawing the layers. Some sculptures are created from written poetry, turning words into figures. Her fiber work also grows from a drawing background. She has developed a process using wool from her family farm that has been hand-dyed vibrant colors. The wool creates fields of color that Gardner-Roe stitches with thread and a sewing machine in a process that recalls historical craft traditions like quilt making, embroidery, and felting and brings them into a contemporary context.
The sculptural fiber works in this exhibition also draw from Gardner-Roe’s meditation practices. Many of the works echo the form of an altar that encourages contemplation of the natural elements, the flora, and the fauna in the piece. A monumental fiber piece recreates a thriving hanging garden that echoes the curvature of the earth as observed from the International Space Station. This immersive space creates a tension between observing the world at a removed distance while also encouraging the viewer to contemplate the creatures and plants that surround us in our everyday life.
The AKMA hopes that visitors of all ages will find something in this exhibition that connects them to the natural world. The Education Department will incorporate visits to the exhibition into the activities for the 2025 Summer Camp program, which will focus on nature as its inspiration.
Our Very Nature will be on exhibit from May 10 through August 10. More information about this exhibition and related programming can be found at albrecht-kemper.org.
Financial assistance provided by the St. Joseph, Missouri Visitors Bureau and the Missouri Arts Council.
