Against the Grain: What to Expect from Michelle Washington's Solo Exhibition
Against the Grain: What to Expect from Michelle Washington's Solo Exhibition at Drummond Studio Gallery
Some exhibitions you walk through. This one asks you to sit with it.
Against the Grain opens at Drummond Studio Gallery on May 22nd and it is unlike anything we've shown before. This is a solo exhibition by Michelle Washington that confronts one of the most difficult chapters in the history of the American South, and does it through some of the most powerful large-scale abstract work you'll see this year.
The Artist
Michelle Washington is an artist whose practice sits at the intersection of history, memory, and material. Her work doesn't shy away from difficult subject matter. Instead, it finds a way to hold it, to make it visible and felt in a way that text alone cannot. Every material choice is intentional, carrying the weight of the story she is telling.
We are honored to have her work on our walls for the duration of the Spoleto run.
The Work
Against the Grain examines the brutal legacy of rice plantations in the Carolinas and the foundational role they played in shaping the region we call home. Through large-scale abstract paintings, symbolic imagery, and immersive installation, Washington confronts the estimated three to seven year life expectancy of enslaved Africans who were forced to labor in the rice fields. That number stays with you.
The work explores the tension between abundance and exploitation. Pieces like Pharaohs and Masters, Price of Rice, and Hull to Hull connect Biblical narrative, mortality, and the transatlantic trade. One of the most striking works, Ague (Bad Air), wraps around perpendicular walls, requiring you to physically turn the corner to see the full image. It mirrors the layered histories that are so often obscured, the ones we have to go looking for to fully understand.
This is art that asks something of you. It invites you to reflect on inheritance, endurance, and the true cost of cultivation in the American landscape.
Opening Reception
Against the Grain opens Friday, May 22nd with a reception from 5 to 9 PM. Come meet Michelle, experience the work in person, and help us open this exhibition the right way. Free admission.
Upcoming Events During the Exhibition
The gallery has a full calendar of events happening while Against the Grain is on view. Here's what's coming up:
Saturday, May 23rd — Ann Caldwell: A Lesson in Spirituals & Journey of Return. Two shows, 6 PM and 8 PM. Tickets on Eventbrite.
Wednesday, May 27th — Against the Grain: Wine Tasting with Fermented Vines. Free admission.
Friday, May 29th — Against the Grain: Artist Talk with Michelle Washington. 6–8 PM. Free admission.
Thursday, June 4th — Ron Daise: Lowcountry Inspirations. Two shows, 6 PM and 8 PM. Tickets on Eventbrite.
Friday, June 5th — The Mahoganee Xperience: Indigenous Soul Music, Carolina Gold Edition. Doors 6 PM, show 6:30 PM. Tickets on Eventbrite.
Special Spoleto Gallery Hours
Want to see the exhibition outside of the events? We have special viewing hours during Spoleto: May 26–28th and June 2nd–4th, 10 AM–2 PM. You can also schedule a private appointment at drummondstudiogallery.com.
Against the Grain will be on view throughout the entire Spoleto run. We hope you'll come see it for yourself.
Drummond Studio Gallery 12 Line St, Suite 102 | Charleston, SC