Flower Beneath the Foot

Weinrib, a central figure in New York’s design community, has spent over three decades translating painterly ideals into textile design. Known for modernising traditional weaving techniques, she has created rug collections for esteemed galleries worldwide. As Creative Director of the Heirloom Project, she worked with institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston stores, partnering with global artisans and preserving historic design practices. Her collaborators include the Art Production Fund, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Neue Galerie, IFPA Print Fair, the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne (NGV), the Parrish Art Museum.

Rene Ricard, a legendary voice in New York’s art scene, is celebrated for his poetry and influential criticism—most notably The Radiant Child (1981), which helped launch the careers of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. Ricard’s creative interests extended to painting and, later, design. A longtime admirer of textiles and colour, his partnership with Weinrib on this rug collection began in 2009.

Flower Beneath the Foot showcases the fruit of their enduring friendship and creative exchange. The rugs, developed over several years, translate Ricard’s writings into textile form using ten shades of gray. He remained intimately involved in the design and weaving process until his death—just two weeks before the project’s completion.

This exhibition not only honors Ricard’s influence on contemporary art but also acknowledges his unheralded contributions to textile design. For the first time, these pieces will be shown on the West Coast in conjunction with Design Los Angeles from 7th May through 25th June.