Tali Halpern (they/them, b. 1994, Chicago, IL) lives and works in Chicago. Tali’s work explores the complexities of queerness, sexuality, desirability, gender, and its aesthetics as well as topics surrounding addiction and recovery through a mixed media fiber practice. Their work is informed by collage, exploring the layers of intersectionality in art, identity, spirituality and existence. Fiber is a soft medium in contrast with the often challenging themes in their work. Neither static nor flat, they are tactile and in direct relationship to the body. They use self-portraiture as witness to flesh, feelings, addictions, traumas, growth, and joy. Then through collage, they piece and mend the broken, unite the solitary, and combine completely different facets into one, in an attempt to heal. In sharing work about vulnerabilities, often deemed taboo and shameful by society, they reject shame while offering solace and connection to viewers alienated by similar struggles. Their works have been exhibited at Twelve Ten Gallery (Chicago), Tiger Strikes Asteroid (Chicago) and de boer (Los Angeles), Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (Boulder), among others. MFA School of the Art Institute of Chicago, BFA Hampshire College.
Featured Artworks
used me / techniques of coercion, 2024
5 x 16 inches. Handwoven fabrics on a TC2, cotton, wool, thread, paint, rhinestones and beads.
Photo by Mikey Mosher
bondage of self/yearning for former ignorance, 2023
42 x 59 in. Handwoven on TC2, cotton, lurex, acrylic, wool, embroidery, rhinestone, beads and jewelry and paint.
Photo by Mikey Mosher
thy will, not mine, 2025
37 x 15 in. Handwoven fabrics, cotton, wool, silk, bleach, rhinestone, beads
Photo by Mikey Mosher
-n-o-t-h-i-n-g- much to lose, 2025
16 x 8.5 inches. Handwoven fabrics, wool, silk, rhinestone and beads.
Photo by Kate Hassett
montgomery’s lips 1997, 2024
29 x 32 inches. Handwoven fabrics, wool, cotton, beads, grommets and lenticular.
Photo by Mikey Mosher
loved then cast aside, 2024
48 x 30 in. Handwoven fabrics on a TC2, cotton, wool, thread, grommets and rhinestones.
Photo by Mikey Mosher