Exhibits & Events

This exhibition, invites viewers to experience a treasure-trove of never-before-seen patterns and designs from 1960s New York. S. Leser’s graphic designs have been all at once described as playful, geometric, groovy, and obsessive. Motivated by Op-Art and Orphism movements, the shift from her 1960s designs to ’70s and ’80s patterns coordinate with what was fashionable and the pop culture of the time. Mod color-blocking and psychedelic-like treatments give way to Memphis-inspired patterns, while still retaining her signature illustrative style. Some of the colorful works are made with fluorescent paints which glow under black light, and many of her black-and-white designs come to life as vibrating or turning optical illusions.

In the 1990s, S. Leser created her Kaleidoscopes series, a huge collection of concentric circular designs inspired by the classic toy, but experimenting with halftones in place of colors. Extraordinary detail and symmetry in contemporary design often points to the use of digital mediums, but every piece created by Leser is painstakingly hand-drawn. As obsessively meticulous her designs may be, there are tiny imperfections that indicate a very determined artist was behind them.

Leser’s Kaleidoscopes are easily compared to the mandala (circle in Sanskrit); a symmetrical and balanced design symbolizing the universe, common to South Asian religions and spiritual practices. And locals may instantly recognize similarities to hex signs of the Pennsylvania Dutch. There is also an obvious connection 
to the human disposition towards order, geometry and an innate mathematics. Although Leser might disagree that there’s any connection to math, she does experience creating the designs as a somewhat spiritual practice of deep concentration and flow.  

Highly influenced by, and a collector of vintage Emilio Pucci fashion, S. Leser has been inspired and 
encouraged to apply her designs to textiles. She plans to launch the S. Leser ’68 brand with partners in the near future.

View info about the artists and the artworks available here.