The Kent State University Museum is set to host a new exhibition featuring the work of artist John Paul Morabito. Titled “Madonna dei Femminellə,” the exhibition is part of Morabito’s “Magnificat” series, which explores the intersection of queer identity and Catholic Italian American heritage.
Morabito’s work reimagines Italian old master paintings as tapestries, woven on a digital jacquard loom. The artist incorporates glass beads into these pieces, evoking both Catholic splendor and camp sensibilities. By choosing textiles as a medium, Morabito challenges the historical hierarchy that has often placed painting above other art forms.
The tapestries in this exhibition feature technically sophisticated weaving techniques, visible in chevrons, zigzags, and meanders. Morabito’s use of garish colors and intricate weaving methods serves to update canonical images, while also advocating for the visibility of marginalized communities.
Morabito’s work has gained significant recognition in the art world. In 2024, they were named a United States Artists Fellow for their contributions to weaving and contemporary art. Their pieces have been exhibited internationally, including at the Zhejiang Art Museum in China, the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in North Carolina, and the Des Moines Art Center in Iowa.
The artist’s work is represented in several public and private collections, such as the North Carolina Museum of Art and the Musée des Maîtres et Artisans du Québec in Canada. Morabito holds degrees from the Maryland Institute College of Art and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and is currently represented by Patricia Sweetow Gallery in Los Angeles.
The exhibition at Kent State University Museum is sponsored by Janice Lessman-Moss. The museum receives operational support through a sustainability grant from the Ohio Arts Council.
The “Madonna dei Femminellə” exhibition will run from March 21 to June 22, 2025, with a reception and artist talk scheduled for March 20th at 5:00 pm.
