All Shook Up, 2019–2020

Installation view of seven colorful soft sculptures of Elvis Presley.

Inspired by archaic busts, I think of this series as, alternatively: The Residents album “The King & Eye” reconstructed as soft sculpture; the Elgin Marbles meets Louise Bourgeois meets Looney Tunes; a thirteen-year-old girl playing Elvis in a talent show; and an argument between W.J.T. Mitchell and Tzvetan Todorov in a drag queen's closet.⁠

A colorful ruffled soft sculpture of Elvis Presley in hues of green, pink, burgundy, and purple. The sculpture has two faces and a wide pointed 1970s collar.

Graceland, 2020; polyester, wool, satin, lace; 39 x 15 x 8 in.

A colorful soft sculpture of Elvis Presley in hues of red, sky-blue, black, and green. The sculpture has a sagging gold vinyl pedestal.

Knave, 2019; wool, polyester, cotton, laminated metallic spandex, chenille brocade, lace trim; 34 x 21 x 9 in.

A colorful ruffled soft sculpture of Elvis Presley in floral fabrics and metallic velvet. The sculpture sags gently, like a costume hung from a nail.

Tupelo Boy, 2020; polyester, velvet, rayon; 31 x 12 x 8 in.

A colorful ruffled soft sculpture of Elvis Presley in electric blue, magenta, and pink. The sculpture has a sagging gold vinyl pedestal.

Thin King, 2019; wool, polyester, cotton, brocade, vinyl; 40 x 20 x 8 in.

A colorful pleated and ruffled soft sculpture of Elvis Presley in hues of green, orange, pink, and slate blue. The sculpture has gold starred fabric on the back, visible where one shoulder slumps forward.

Bird of Paradise, 2020; polyester, wool, silk, chiffon; 33 x 15 x 6 in.

A colorful soft sculpture of Elvis Presley in tropical shades of aqua, pink, orange, and black. The sculpture has a sagging white vinyl pedestal that matches Elvis’s large white 1970s shirt collar.

Tropicalia, 2019; wool, cotton, polyester, vinyl; 36 x 24 x 8 in.

A colorful fabric sculpture of Elvis Presley in shades of electric blue, red, black and gold. Elvis looks at the viewer with one bright-blue eye, and the sculpture is finished at the bottom with gold fringe.

Blue Eye, 2019; polyester, wool, brocade, taffeta, cotton, metallic mesh, fringe; 29 x 14 x 10 in.

A side view of six fabric busts of Elvis Presley hung on the wall. The side view shows the volume of the sculptures.

All Shook Up, installation view, 2020.

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