World-class inspiration is just steps away in Lincoln Square. The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), located at 2 Columbus Circle, has unveiled two major exhibitions that celebrate the intersection of nature, fashion, and meticulous craft. Both presentations are on view through October 12, 2026, offering a deep dive into how contemporary artists are pushing the boundaries of traditional materials to tell modern stories.
Alice Riehl’s Porcelain Florilegium transforms porcelain into wall murals inspired by botanical imagery from medieval and Renaissance tapestries, French decorative arts, mythology, and close observation of plants. Riehl’s work highlights roots, growth cycles, and the resilience of pioneer plants in urban environments. This exhibition, her first major U.S. museum show, lets visitors explore the detail and craftsmanship that define her practice.
The 2025 Burke Prize winner, Hai-Wen Lin, invites visitors to see fashion and sculpture take flight. Lin creates “couture for the wind,” designing kites that double as wearable garments, merging performance, design, and material innovation. Each piece is rich with hand-crafted details—from feathers and ceramic beads to hand-dyed ropes and sunlight-dyed silks—offering moments of discovery both up close and from afar. The result is work that feels personal, poetic, and expansive all at once, beautifully capturing the artist’s unique vision of the body’s relationship to the environment.
Both exhibitions offer an inspiring glimpse into the skill, imagination, and innovation that shape contemporary craft today. Make sure to visit The Store at MAD during your trip and discover distinctive art and design items—perfect for unique gifts or adding a creative touch to your home.
Photo Credit:
Left Image – Alice Riehl, Timidité (2025). Photo: Courtesy of Todd Merrill Studio and the artist.
Right Image – 2025 Burke Prize Winner Hai-Wen Lin, Send Them Their Flowers, 2024
Kites: Silk, bamboo, hand-woven tassels, and jewelry chain
Each kite approx. 53 × 40 in. (134.6 x 101.6 cm)
