May 2 – July 13, 2025

Opening Reception: May 2, 2025
Members Only Happy Hour from 4-6pm
Open to Public from 6-9pm

Ogden Contemporary Arts is pleased to partner with Material to present Lu Wei: Entering Into the Serpent

Lu Wei’s art, which spans ink paintings, bound books, installations, and videos, is a deep exploration of feminine thought and the intimate experiences of motherhood. Beyond cultivating the tradition of ink painting techniques, her works challenge traditional interpretations of female and mother figures in ink art. She reinterprets goddesses, animals, and landscapes to reflect the complexities of women’s bodies, experiences, and identities.

In the exhibition Entering into the Serpent, Lu Wei explores the darker creative powers of women and mother figures. For the past two years, she has turned her attention to indigenous cultures in the American Southwest and Mexico, focusing on their connection to concepts of land and bridging them to ink painting’s cosmology. She has been inspired by Chicana feminist Gloria Anzaldúa’s work “Borderlands / La Frontera,” in which the Serpent is a powerful symbol of femininity, the body, the earth, fertility, healing, death, and rebirth. Lu Wei’s works foreground feminine power, embracing what has often been characterized as the “dark” or “wild” side of women and exploring the intersection of spirituality, story, and identity. By using the “Serpent” as a metaphor for feminine space, the exhibition invites the audience to enter its complex aesthetic and possibilities.

Lu Wei: Entering into the Serpent is curated by Material and made possible in part by the generous support of the Ministry of Culture in Taiwan and the Taiwan National Culture and Arts Foundation.

Major funding for this exhibition is also provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, The Utah Division of Arts & Museums, George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Ogden Arts, Rocky Mountain Power, and the Utah Office of Tourism.

Material Partnership

Both Ogden Contemporary Arts and Material will be showcasing solo exhibitions by renowned artist Lu Wei.

“In addition to Ink Shadows, Material is excited to join forces with Ogden Contemporary Arts (OCA) to present Entering Into the Serpent, a solo exhibition of Lu Wei’s work. This collaborative effort, on view in Ogden, Utah, from May 2 through July 13, is a celebration of the darker creative powers of women, and we invite you to be a part of it.”

Lu Wei: Ink Shadows
April 11 – May 23, 2025

Material
2970 South West Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84115

About Material

Material Art Gallery is guided by a curatorial vision deeply rooted in the practices of its founders, artists Jorge Rojas and Colour Maisch. With backgrounds in interdisciplinary art, art education, community engagement, and experimental materiality, Maisch and Rojas have over 30 years of combined expertise in curatorial and arts leadership experience, which informs the gallery’s dedication to showcasing dynamic, process-driven works. Their leadership fosters an environment where contemporary art thrives beyond conventional boundaries.

Material Art Gallery is a space dedicated to exploring materiality in contemporary art. Through exhibitions, performances, and community-driven programming, the gallery not only exhibits local, national, and international artists who challenge traditional notions of form, function, and meaning but also actively involves the local community. Inspired by the vision of Jorge Rojas and Colour Maisch, Material serves as a platform for innovative and conceptually rich practices, fostering dialogue between artists, materials, and audiences in Salt Lake City and beyond.