“Have a Seat” Exhibition Turns Everyday Chairs Into Art
A juried exhibition explores the artistic possibilities of chairs through sculpture, painting and mixed media.
Riannson
“Take a load off” is not advice to follow at Niza Knoll Gallery’s latest exhibition. Despite its welcoming title, Have a Seat, the show is less about rest and more about reconsideration transforming a familiar, functional object into something expressive, surprising and, in some cases, untouchable.
On view from April 17 through May 31, 2026, the juried exhibition brings together a wide range of artists who reinterpret the chair in inventive ways. Some pieces are delicate or purely decorative; others are abstract, miniature or exaggerated to the point of impracticality. A few exist only as images on the wall, shifting the concept of a chair from object to idea.
Friesz
The exhibition features work across mediums, including paint, paper, clay, fabric, wood, foliage and found objects. Sculptural pieces share space with paintings and photography, expanding the definition of what a “chair” can be.
Participating artists include Mary Lynn Baird, Leslie Belfor, Rita Bhasin, Jareth J. Charles, Deborah Deal, Victoria Eubanks, Kathy Friesz, Trish Gans, Eilee George, Nina Hausfeld, Deborah Jang, Brenda Jones, Steven Jones, AJ Kiel, Skylar K., Niza Knoll, Adrien Law II, Leona Lazar, Jennifer Lowell, Carol MacAllister, Aliki McCain, Heather McKinnon, Kristy Melodia, Sophia Fierek, Bill Nelson, Katherine Reed, Brian Rendon, Lisa Riannson, Deb Rosenbaum, Carlos Santistevan, Elizabeth Shepardson and Stevie.
Jang
The gallery is open to the public Thursday through Sunday from 1–4 p.m., with additional programming scheduled throughout the run.
Visitors can experience the exhibition during two key events:
- Artist Reception: April 17, 5–8 p.m.
- First Friday Artwalk: May 1, 5–9 p.m.
Macallister
By focusing on an everyday object, Have a Seat invites viewers to slow down and reconsider the role of design and function in daily life. The exhibition highlights how something as ordinary as a chair can carry artistic, cultural and even emotional weight when placed in a new context.
The show runs through May 31, offering multiple opportunities to engage with its varied interpretations of a universally recognized form.
