First look: “Spirit House” & Charlene Liu @ Henry Art Gallery

It’s not every day that you can pass between the realms of the living and the dead — especially for free. But on Thursday, August 14, Henry Art Gallery invites you to do just that.

Stop by the gallery at 6 p.m. to celebrate two new bold art experiences. The first is “Spirit House,” an exhibition that features 33 Asian American and Asian diasporic artists whose powerful works engage memory, ancestry and relationships between the realms of the living and the dead, the physical and the metaphysical.

“‘Spirit House’ offers a space for reflection and connection,” says Tanja Baumann, the director of public relations and communications at the Henry. “Visitors are invited to commune with their ancestors, revisit powerful memories and traverse timelines that reach beyond linear history.”

Next, you’ll step outside into the Sculpture Court to take in Charlene Liu’s stunning new mural. This is Liu’s inaugural mural in Henry’s Sculpture Court. Through it, she presents a lush, imagined landscape inspired by food (the piece is called “Scallion”), using it as a playful and poignant lens to explore memory, belonging and diasporic identity.

Enjoy a curated, feel-good playlist, ping-pong and complimentary drinks under the summer evening sky. The gallery is staying open late to celebrate — until 8 p.m. — so take your time with the art, meet fellow art lovers and soak in the vibey atmosphere.

The Henry is a contemporary art museum fostering equity, innovation and curiosity through bold exhibitions, diverse voices and transformative experiences.