Tschabalala Self: Tools of Worship at Petzel

Petzel in Chelsea presents Tools of Worship, an exhibition by Tschabalala Self, from November 5, 2026 to January 30, 2027. The gallery is at 520 West 25th Street.

Self is a painter from Harlem, New York, who also works in printmaking and sculpture. Her practice is distinguished by a method that joins drawn and painted marks with fabric and stitching. The canvas becomes both a flat picture plane and a built-up surface of layered materials. Through this approach she has become known for figures that hold the picture with strong presence.

One work announced for the show is In Creation (2026), a square canvas measuring roughly 307 by 307 centimeters. Its materials include acrylic paint, oil paint, colored pencil, oil pastel, fabric, thread, and painted canvas applied onto the main canvas. Painting, drawing, sewing, and collage all come together in a single picture, and the stages of making remain visible as physical layers. At about 3.8 centimeters deep, the piece also has a slightly sculptural quality as it projects from the wall.

The exhibition title, Tools of Worship, invites reflection on the materials and methods in Self's work and on her relationship to her subjects. How the new pieces take up that idea is best judged in person, where the texture of the surfaces can be seen up close.

Petzel is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For visitors walking Chelsea's gallery district, the show offers a chance to see new large-scale paintings by an artist whose work rewards close looking.