The Living Temple: The World of Moki Cherry

The Contemporary Austin opens The Living Temple: The World of Moki Cherry on Friday, September 18, and it's the largest show of her work ever to be held in the US. It runs through January 17, 2027, so you've got plenty of time to fit it in.

If you haven't come across her before, Moki Cherry (1943–2009) was a Swedish artist and designer who described her life as "home as stage, stage as home." Born Monica Karlsson in Norbotten, she moved to Stockholm in 1962 to study fashion design before her practice grew into something that barely stayed in one lane. She worked in tapestry, painting, music, costume, set design, sculpture, and ceramics, and the whole thing was guided by themes of ecology, environmental and spiritual awareness, and the home environment. The show brings together work from across that entire range, so you'll see tapestries, paintings, drawings, concert posters, clothing and costumes, sculpture, music, video, and archival materials all in one place.

There's a personal story behind the work, too. In 1963, she met the jazz musician Don Cherry (1936–1995). For the next twenty years, they lived between Sweden and New York and collaborated on projects like Organic Music, and together they coined the terms "Movement Incorporated" and "Organic Music." In 1970, they bought a former schoolhouse in Skåne, which became the base for their semi-nomadic life and a creative and educational hub. The Living Temple is a retrospective of her career, and it's organized by Ars Nova Workshop with The Fabric Workshop and Museum.

It opens September 18 at The Contemporary Austin and runs through January 17, 2027.