Handlers is an exploration in structures of dependence through a cultural lens —

how human systems take shape and, in doing so, build upon relationships

of power and influence. We consider the infrastructure, objects, and vices

— physical or mental — that dictate contemporary livelihood. In Handlers,

artists from across the continental U.S. respond to this theme through print,

photography, oil, graphite, and sculpture— mediums that are grounded in

dependence through material submission and physical commitment. Through

this submission, we ask: How do the things we build, use, and depend on

— culturally and materially — come to shape our lives, create reliance, and

structure power? In these works, Sarah Deppe, Samira Henninge, Reuben Van Hoeve,

Ethan Lober, Alyssa Zoe Putnam, Hank Reavis, Grayson Richter, Brenna Sastram,

Lev Sevilla, Rosa Sittig-Bell, Noah Trimble, TINO, Stafford Vaughn & Noelle Whitaker

consider the subtle and overt forces that shape behavior, define access, and

reinforce hierarchies — whether embedded in built environments,  daily rituals,

digital interfaces, or internal compulsions.