Motnyk spent time at Troutbeck during the summer months, collecting botanical materials from the property’s extensive gardens and partnering with chef Vincent Gilberti to re-purpose vegetable matter, such as onion skins, from the kitchen in order to make natural dyes for the works. Motnyk is deeply inspired by nature, often titling her pieces after the landscape surrounding her home in the Catskills. She approaches her work as though painting with fabric, often drawing out sketches for her color-blocked panels before beginning her stitching. For Troutbeck, Motnyk has planned a site-specific commission for the library windows, along with a new body of work for the gallery space. The opening events on September 27 will include a public artist’s talk with Lauren Cornell, Artistic Director at the Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College; and a natural dye workshop led by both Motnyk and longtime collaborator, Susan Cianciolo. Object & Thing has presented Motnyk’s work in group exhibitions since 2021 and she joined the roster of artists in 2022.

About the Artist

Kiva Motnyk (b.1977) lives and works between New York City and the Catskills region of Upstate New York. A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, Motnyk worked in the fashion industry before pivoting to her art textiles practice. In addition to Object & Thing, Motnyk’s work has been included in group exhibitions with Bridget Donahue, Egg Collective and Ralph Pucci. In 2014, Motnyk founded Thompson Street Studio, which brings together her interests in both art and commerce through a robust production of fabric-based functional works. She has also collaborated with Susan Cianciolo in the design collective Run Home, which was part of the Performa 19 Biennial. Motnyk was an artist participant in Look Alive at Guild Hall (East Hampton, New York) in 2024.