Flower Beneath the Foot

Emma Scully Gallery presents “Flower Beneath the Foot,” an exhibition that honors the creative partnership between renowned textile designer Madeline Weinrib and the late poet, critic, and artist Rene Ricard. The show, which features work from Dana Arbib and Simone Bodmer-Turner, as well, will open on April 23, 2025, at the gallery.

The focal point of “Flower Beneath the Foot” is the collaboration between Weinrib and Ricard. Their collection of rugs, first conceived in 2009 and developed over the years since then, represents the culmination of a deep friendship that spanned decades. Known for his poetry and art criticism, Ricard’s contributions to the New York art scene were monumental. His essay The Radiant Child (1981) helped propel the careers of artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, forever cementing his place in the history of contemporary art. In the 1980s Ricard also explored painting, and, ultimately, his creative spirit extended to the world of design, where his work with Weinrib produced some of the most personal and meticulous pieces of their careers.