Sarah Sze, Badlands (2026)
Many years ago, I was profiled Sarah Wed (b. 1969) for this publication. Digging into her work and personality, I realized she was a bona fide genius—she was later named a true genius with a MacArthur Grant—but I found myself wondering what it would be like to collect it. The question was answered not long after that year, at the home of collectors Michael and Susan Hort, at their annual Tribeca loft party showcasing their collection. Somewhere in an upstairs bedroom, Sze had taken a linen closet, using thread, light, cotton and, as I recall, some toilet paper to create a miniature universe. Very cute, but sometimes guests come over and you have to replace the hand towels. Can I offer you a more practical solution to the Gagosian booth? This wonderful new piece of mixed media remixes photographic elements, as if a tropical retreat was attacked by a torrent of paint. As with all her work, there are conspiratorial plot lines to follow if you’re looking for that, but I think it’s more fun to relax your eyes and let them wash over you. To me, the overall effect is similar to when a vandal cracks those video advertising screens in the subway, which is to say, it’s terrifyingly beautiful.
