New York, New York – Emma Scully Gallery is proud to announce the opening of “Flower Beneath the Foot,” an exhibition that honors the creative partnership between renowned textile designer Madeline Weinrib and the late poet, critic, and artist Rene Ricard. The show, which features work from Dana Arbib and Simone Bodmer-Turner, as well, will open on April 23, 2025, at the gallery.
The focal point of “Flower Beneath the Foot” is the collaboration between Weinrib and Ricard. Their collection of rugs, first conceived in 2009 and developed over the years since then, represents the culmination of a deep friendship that spanned decades. Known for his poetry and art criticism, Ricard’s contributions to the New York art scene were monumental. His essay The Radiant Child (1981) helped propel the careers of artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, forever cementing his place in the history of contemporary art. In the 1980s Ricard also explored painting, and, ultimately, his creative spirit extended to the world of design, where his work with Weinrib produced some of the most personal and meticulous pieces of their careers.
The collection began with a single design that Ricard created for Weinrib, in which he wrote her name repeatedly in his distinctive handwriting. This first piece served as the model for the collection that would follow and which was painstakingly woven in Nepal over several years. Ricard worked directly with the weavers, using this first rug as a guide and sending handwriting and textile samples back and forth, adjusting every detail to ensure the colors, shapes, and proportions were to his exacting standards. For instance, the weavers use ten different shades of gray to produce the appearance of graphite the way envisioned.
Weinrib, who began her career as a painter before turning her focus to design, describes this collaborative process as deeply personal. “Rene and I would spend hours discussing the work,” she recalls. “And after he passed, I still felt in dialogue with him. I would have ‘inner fights’ with him over color choices, and yet, even in these moments, I felt his support. This collection is as much about our friendship as it is about the art.” Her connection to the work is amplified by the fact that the rugs represent not only the last collaboration between the two but also the final expression of Ricard’s artistic vision – leaving a huge responsibility to protect his legacy.
The rugs themselves, with their lush color palettes and intricate weaving, speak to Ricard’s extraordinary knowledge of color and his deep appreciation for textiles. His artistic vision is brought to life in each rug, from the delicate shades of gray to the playful bursts of color. The rugs, as Weinrib explains, are not just decorative objects — they are works of art, imbued with the love and respect that Ricard had for the craft. Each piece is true to size specifications as laid out by Ricard (though the Emma Scully team can resize with approval) and is available in four colors: Tiffany Blue, Naples Yellow, Paper White, and Maroc Pink.
While first on display at Emma Scully Gallery, Weinrib and Ricard’s collection will also be presented during Design LA at Christopher Farr.
Alongside the rugs, the exhibition also features striking works by contemporary artists Dana Arbib and Simone Bodmer-Turner. Arbib’s “I Dreamed” chandeliers – new work commissioned for the show – draw inspiration from Ricard’s poetry and the colors he loved, blending traditional Murano glassblowing techniques without the use of molds. Featuring three striking lighting fixtures, the collection includes an impressive eight-light chandelier, a medium four-light chandelier, and a single hanging pendant.
While rooted in historical methods, Arbib's designs embrace modern aesthetics through the incorporation of bubbled globe accents and a striking color palette comprising amber, cream, and black glass. The bubbled amber glass infuses a cozy, atmospheric glow, while the black glass introduces a bold contrast. Notably, the cream glass is created through a unique process that layers gold leaf over white glass, reflecting a rich artisanal practice.
Simone Bodmer-Turner’s Molten Lily Sconces, crafted from cast bronze, round out the show. Initially displayed during her “A Year Without a Kiln” exhibition in 2024, the lights evoke the spirit of artists Alexander Calder and Diego Giacometti, whose influence can be seen in the pieces’ elegant, organic forms, and were produced in collaboration with master metalworkers at West Supply in Chicago.
“Flower Beneath the Foot” will be unveiled on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 and will remain on view until June 20, 2025 by appointment.
