The opening of KyCAD's latest 849 Gallery exhibition purposefully coincides with the inaugural semester of its Experimental Fashion + Performance Pathway. Accordingly, this multidisciplinary event titled Disguise, Mischief, and Freedom explores garments and adornment and the narratives they proclaim about ourselves.

To preface the Public Reception (which takes place at 5pm on November 7), we talked with the show's creator Vincent Tiley about his art practice, the Pathway he's building at KyCAD, and his approach to curation. Here’s what he shared.

Tell us a little bit about your background and your work as an artist?

I've always worked in-between fashion and art. In Chicago I started working on my garment-based performance practice at the same time I met several drag and nightlife performers and started sewing clothes for them. It was a fun time and felt freeing because I could just make without the worry of anything sticking around for too long.

When I moved to New York I became friends with and worked with designer BCALLA, while at the same time having shows around what was at-the-time the new Bushwick gallery scene. That was great and wild to be sewing things for pop stars one day, ghost-painting for an artist the next, then performing for 24 hours in a street level art gallery near Metro on the weekend. This decade really shaped how I interact with the world. Sewing clothes for friends who perform became a kind of portrait practice.

These days I am working more on my studio practice. Trying to just take all I've learned and apply it to what I want to make.

What motivated you to create the art you make?

Well, at first the costumes were for narrative video pieces. I had a breakthrough when I realized what I was doing live was more interesting and generous than the narratives I was trying to portray. Making complex garments that combined their wearers together and "installing" them in the middle of the gallery to be clumsy, awkward, and tender together for three hours became my style. It was also a reaction against the performance artscene in Chicago at the time (which I have huge respect for). But Chicago is known for these multi-act, rehearsed performance art productions. I like production but if I must block out movement or rehearse a line, I'm not going to get it. My minimal approach to performing became a way out of that way of working. 

Also, I was always hugely impressed by artists Leigh Bowery and Terence Koh who are in the show. They are so different, but the look is so important for both. I wanted to make performances where the action was dictated by the look.

Do you have work on view currently and if so, where?

I do not right now, and that's GREAT!  I just had a duo show in NYC with Jerry Torre (AKA the Marble Fawn of Grey Gardens) at New Discretions/Situations gallery. I really loved that show, and it was a dream showing with Jerry. I have two shows coming up but that's all I can say about them.

How did you get connected to KyCAD?

I met KyCAD's Vice President of Academic Affairs, Joyce Ogden, at Ox-Bow School of Art in Michigan. She was an artist-in-residence there and I was teaching an inflatables class with Claire Ashley. I gave an artist talk that she attended, and the rest is history. Working with the students here is an incredible privilege.

What is the inspiration behind the new exhibition at the 849 Gallery?

The title is the inspiration: Disguise,Mischief, and Freedom. I really wanted to show works about the power you have when you can adeptly construct your own image and manipulate how the world views you. I just had those three words in my head and at a certain point I was just like "well, I guess that's the title." I think everyone in the show really uses their image as a mirror to reflect society back to itself. 

How did you select the artists involved?

The show is a teaching show. I want the students at KyCAD to be exposed to a broad range of ways of working from artists both contemporary and historical. This show certainly isn't everything KyCAD's new Experimental Fashion + Performance Pathway is about, but it's a good start.

Some of the artists I have direct connection with from my past, others are friends from my corner of NYC, and some are artists that Kentucky has brought into my world. It's incredibly humbling to be working with everyone, all the artists have been so generous with their work.

I am also very grateful to the people who loaned parts of their personal collections to the exhibition. Tony Cox, Joey Yates and Pat Stallard, and KMAC Contemporary Art Museum all made this exhibition a reality and I want to thank them for putting their trust in me and KyCAD.

What do you hope people take away from this exhibition?

Freedom can look like anything.

Anything else you would like to add?

Dress to impress.

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*Vincent Tiley serves as KyCAD’s Curriculum Advisor and Discipline Expert in Experimental Fashion + Performance, and Part-time Assistant Professor of Studio Art.

**Images are courtesy of Rose Nestler and MRS Gallery.