Elisabeth Condon “Big Feeling”

TEN ARTISTS EXPLORE THE POWER OF MONOCHROME IN “PRIMEVAL GROUND [DEEP, UNFATHOMABLE].”
WESTBETH GALLERY | 55 BETHUNE STREET, NYC
JAN 7-25, 2026

ABOUT THE WORK: ELISABETH CONDON Click CC button at bottom of video to activate closed captions.

 ABOUT THE WORK; MARISA TESAURO Click CC button at bottom of video to activate closed captions.
 

SELECTED IMAGES FROM SHOW Click thumbnail to start slide show

Group Exhibition Curated by New York-based artist Susan Rowe Harrison Features Diverse Media Spanning Photography, Weaving, Installation, Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, and Performance.

NEW YORK, NY – From January 7 to January 25, 2026, Westbeth Gallery presents Primeval Ground [deep, unfathomable]: A Show of Monochrome and Low-Chrome Artworks curated by New York-based artist Susan Rowe Harrison.

The exhibition brings together ten remarkable artists—Caroline Burton, Karin Campbell, Elizabeth Castagna, Marcy Chevali, Elisabeth Condon, Cadence Giersbach, Susan Rowe Harrison, Naomi Livia, Stacy Mehrfar, and Marisa Tesauro—whose practices span photography, weaving, installation, drawing, painting, sculpture, cut paper, video, and participatory drawing.

“As a colorist, I found myself working in monochrome but thinking of it as color,” says Harrison. “I wanted to understand why artists make this choice—does color get in the way? Is reduction an act of austerity, a reflection on the state of the world, mystery, or simply what the work demands? The best way to explore this was to reach out and collaborate.”

The title “Primeval Ground” comes from Paul Klee, who is quoted as saying: “We do not have to understand the black, it is the primeval ground.” The title recalls the mysterious core of an artwork, a depth we barely understand. From the earliest drawings made with charred sticks on cave walls to contemporary relevance, the featured artists delve into the philosophical, aesthetic, and emotional depths of working with color restraint through monochrome and low-chrome palettes. The exhibition demonstrates how limitation becomes a powerful vehicle of expression, focus, and innovation.

Follow the exhibit on IG: @primeval_ground.

EXHIBITION EVENTS:

Opening Reception
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 6:30-8:30 PM

Panel Discussion with Artist and Writer Etty Yaniv of Art Spiel
Thursday, January 15, 2026, 6:30 PM

Body-led Movement Drawing Workshop with Artist Elizabeth Castagna
Saturday, January 24, 2026, 3:00 PM
*Spots are limited. Please RSVP to participate at primevalground@gmail.com

Exhibition continues through Sunday, January 25, 2026

GALLERY INFORMATION:
Westbeth Gallery
55 Bethune Street, corner of Washington Street
New York, NY 10014
Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 1-6 PM and by appointment

For press inquiries, please contact Susan Rowe Harrison at susan@lunule.com or 914-536-7271.

ABOUT THE CURATOR:

Susan Rowe Harrison is a New York-based artist whose work has been exhibited at Wave Hill, PS122, YYZ Artist’s Outlet, and collected by LinkedIn, Pfizer, and the Newberry Library, among others. This is her second curatorial project.