chloe chiasson: keep left at the fork

chloe chiasson [american, b. 1993]. the corner store, 2023. oil, acrylic, wood, plaster, plexiglass, vinyl, chainlink, leds, metal, resin, paper, ink, aluminum on shaped panels. visible dimensions: 132 x 85 x 38 inches | 335.5 x 216 x 96.5 cm. overall dimensions: 132 x 85 x 53 inches | 335.5 x 216 x 134.5 cm. image by kevin todora for dallas contemporary.

in a process that combines painting and carpentry in defiance of traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, chloe chiasson’s large-scale work highlights queer life and visibility. she masterfully collages images from different time periods to suggest possible histories: real, fictive, or repressed.

for her first solo museum exhibition, chiasson revisits americana imagery from previous work to continue her explorations of nonconforming sexualities and identities in environments like that of her childhood in texas. described by the artist as an imaginative drive down the main street of a small southern town, the sculptural paintings present idealistic visions of rural-bred teens and young adults taking ownership of storefronts, backyards and riverside parking lots. chiasson lays before us the trappings of nostalgia as it appears for most southerners, while challenging us to consider a rewritten narrative, one that not only includes but celebrates queer identity within this distinct cultural context. permeated by a coexisting sense of anxiety and comfort, keep left at the fork is a testament to the queer experience and a quintessential homecoming for chiasson, reflecting both a memory and a hope. her sculptural paintings pardon past social trespasses in return for unconditional acceptance, offering a liberating guide that urges others to find and follow their innate sense of direction, even in a place as unfamiliar as home.

in the midst of a regressive surge in anti-lgbtqia+ legislation sweeping the nation, the human rights campaign has identified texas as the epicenter, responsible for a staggering 20% of these bills in 2023. believing in the highest potential of her home state, chloe chiasson’s exhibition reimagines texas as a utopian sanctuary where queer individuals experience visibility and security. through her poignant and vital artistic practice, the artist extends an invitation to dallas contemporary’s audience to transform this fictional town into all of our lived experience.

the exhibition is curated by emily edwards, associate curator.

chloe chiasson was born in port neches, texas. she received her bs in  2016 from the university of texas at austin and her mfa in 2019 from  the new york academy of art, where she concentrated in painting and was a  recipient of the belle artes residency and the chubb post-graduate  fellowship. a recent fountainhead residency recipient, chiasson has  exhibited in new york, los angeles, london, germany, and hong kong. the  artist lives and works in brooklyn, new york.

exhibition support

chloe chiasson: keep left at the fork is made possible with lead support from the conservatory and foundrae generous support from dallas art fair foundation, albertz benda and uovo. chloe chiasson: keep left at the fork is presented with community partnership from dallas hope charities, a 501(c)3 organization instilling dignity, stability, and hope for all through lgbtqia+ affirming housing and basic needs services.