Wetware

Alison Knowles, Aviva Silverman, Bettina, Early Shinada, Faith Icecold, Khia Hong, Patty Chang, Rafael Sánchez, Tishan Hsu

July 9—August 7, 2026
110 Lafayette St, Suite 201
Hosted by RainRain

Tishan Hsu, New Portable, 1988
Acrylic, vinyl cement compound, alkyd, aluminum, and oil on wood
15 1/2 x 84 x 7 inches

This exhibition invokes “wetware”—a computational metaphor for human cognition—to probe the tension between the neatness of cybernetics and the messiness of embodiment. Works in the exhibition range from sculpture, tapestry, painting, and photography to software-generated moving image and site-specific installation by a group of artists spanning several generations. Each artist’s connection to the city of New York forms an additional through-line to the contingencies of perception, communication, and memory that materialize through their works on view. This exhibition invokes “wetware”—a computational metaphor for human cognition—to probe the tension between the neatness of cybernetics and the messiness of embodiment.

Works in the exhibition range from sculpture, tapestry, painting, and photography to software-generated moving image and site-specific installation by a group of artists spanning several generations. Each artist’s connection to the city of New York forms an additional through-line to the contingencies of perception, communication, and memory that materialize through their works on view. This exhibition invokes “wetware”—a computational metaphor for human cognition—to probe the tension between the neatness of cybernetics and the messiness of embodiment. Works in the exhibition range from sculpture, tapestry, painting, and photography to software-generated moving image and site-specific installation by a group of artists spanning several generations.

Each artist’s connection to the city of New York forms an additional through-line to the contingencies of perception, communication, and memory that materialize through their works on view. This exhibition invokes “wetware”—a computational metaphor for human cognition—to probe the tension between the neatness of cybernetics and the messiness of embodiment. Works in the exhibition range from sculpture, tapestry, painting, and photography to software-generated moving image and site-specific installation by a group of artists spanning several generations. Each artist’s connection to the city of New York forms an additional through-line to the contingencies of perception, communication, and memory that materialize through their works on view.

This exhibition invokes “wetware”—a computational metaphor for human cognition—to probe the tension between the neatness of cybernetics and the messiness of embodiment. Works in the exhibition range from sculpture, tapestry, painting, and photography to software-generated moving image and site-specific installation by a group of artists spanning several generations. Each artist’s connection to the city of New York forms an additional through-line to the contingencies of perception, communication, and memory that materialize through their works on view.

Wetware marks the first exhibition organized by Spine.

Bettina
From the series Phenomenological New York, 1972-1977
C-prints mounted on paper by Bettina
28 x 22 inches

Aviva Silverman
Is terraforming reincarnation?, 2015
Mirrors, wood, dyed sand, steel
In collaboration with Emily Shinada

Alison Knowles
Event Thread (Sign Language), 2006
Metal chains, plastic cord, thread, and white flax
76 x 4 inches

Rafael Sánchez
Untitled (The Window Prophets Part A), 1983
Asphalt sealer and gesso on linen
31 1/2 x 39 inches

Patty Chang
Glass Urinary Devices, 2017
Hand-blown borosilicate glass, plastic, and tape
Dimensions variable

Tishan Hsu
New Portable, 1988
Acrylic, vinyl cement compound, alkyd, aluminum, and oil on wood
15 1/2 x 84 x 7 inches

Rafael Sánchez
Honey Jar, 2003
Photograph
10 x 6 inches

Faith Icecold
Untitled, 2026
Jacquard tapestry
34 x 26 inches

Faith Icecold
Untitled, 2026
Jacquard tapestry
34 x 26 inches

Spine collaborates with artists, presenting exhibitions at partnering galleries and in off-site spaces across New York, with the city itself as counterpart. Our first exhibition opens July 9: Wetware. Programmed by Aidan Chisholm and Laura Audrey Brown. Write us: info@spine.nyc.

Spine collaborates with artists, presenting exhibitions at partnering galleries and in off-site spaces across New York, with the city itself as counterpart.

Our first exhibition opens July 9: Wetware.

Programmed by Aidan Chisholm and Laura Audrey Brown. Write us: info@spine.nyc.