Kirsten Batten-LeachCatalyst Carrier

Sculptures of rust-stained, sewn canvas and a magnetized graphite form, made through oxidation and corrosion to portray carework.

Batten-Leach cultivates rust on canvas with oxidized steel and copper, then cuts and sews the distressed cloth into sprawling, crevice-filled forms. A graphite sculpture holds scraps of slag in place with hidden magnets, posing the question of what is holding and what is being held.

The work draws on her own experience as a caregiver in family and informal labor economies. It is her first solo exhibition in New York City, and she is a 2025–2026 A.I.R. Fellow.

Full details at airgallery.org