NADA House 2021

Mike Goodlett’s (b. 1952) works act as vessels for desires, personas, and experiences, suggesting the explicit through their whimsy and form. Sculptures forged from plaster, concrete, enamel, and spray paint bloom from below, while delicately rendered drawings present sensuous and playful communions. The window adornments— created particularly for this space—fuse with the venue, binding Goodlett’s fantastical productions to the mysterious charms of their antique residence. For many years, Goodlett’s oeuvre has resided in an old Southern farmhouse, hidden in the woods of rural Kentucky. The parallels between the historic buildings of Governor’s Island and Goodlett’s studio are indeed uncanny. Though far from home, the artist’s works engage with this resonance, illustrating a portal between these two curious shrines.