‘Worn’ reflects the major role clothing and fabric play in identity, memories and meaning
By MICHELLE BEKHTEL — city@theaggie.org
From Jan. 9 to Feb. 8, 2026, the Pence Gallery will host an exhibit titled “Worn.” This exhibit showcases art that explores the correlation between clothing, culture and identity, and is located in the Learning Center Gallery. This gallery is open to the public, as Pence celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Katharine Schultz, curator and education director at the Pence Gallery, spoke about the history of the gallery.
“We have been here since 1976 as a local community gallery, and we started out as a one-room gallery which was originally a dental office,” Schultz said. “That dentist, Joe Pence, later donated the building to the city.”
To build the exhibition, the Pence gallery opened a public artist call in Fall 2025, inviting submissions from local and regional creators.
“We always work with living artists that are currently making work [and] practicing art in the Davis area and Bay area,” Schultz said.
Schultz explained that the public artist call was intentionally broad in order to encourage accessibility and a wide range of interpretations.
“The idea was that you could apply with any type of medium,” Schultz said. “It just had to relate to clothing and identity in some way, and I really wanted it to be as accessible to as many people as possible, as well as meet new artists that I had never heard of before.”
One of the standout works in “Worn” is Yi-Chuan Chen’s “Souvenir 4,” a continuation of her earlier piece “Souvenir 1,” which was created 17 years ago from her own hair. The new work revisits the original concept using her current locks of hair, shaped into delicate hat-like forms, and reframes her earlier work through the lens of time and change.
Chen described the emotional and cultural resonance behind the material in her artist’s statement, displayed in the gallery.
“Hair — shed by the body yet held by memory — becomes an intimate archive of identity,” Chen wrote. “These small hair-hats capture a moment in my life, a keepsake of youth, movement and becoming […] This new work transforms what was once a souvenir of the past into a testament to resilience, change, and the quiet accumulation of memory.”
Schultz explained how Chen’s work connects aging, memory and Taiwanese cultural practices.
“[‘Souvenir 4’ shows] her relationship with aging and memories that were held in hair,” Schultz said. “In Taiwanese culture, when a family member passes or a significant event happens, you cut your hair; so it’s an important reminder of events that have happened in her life.”
Schultz also highlighted how artist statements depend on the emotional tone of the exhibit.
“I love that we are able to include the artist’s statements, because it feels more personal,” Schultz said. “There is a lot of love felt in the show.”
“Worn” features a wide range of media — including fiber art, mixed media, painting, sculpture and photography — to explore how clothing can reflect personal and cultural narratives. Each artist interprets the theme through their own lived experiences and creative processes, in accordance with the gallery’s mission; one that emphasizes supporting local artists and fostering community engagement through contemporary art.
“The Pence Gallery’s mission is to serve the community through offering high caliber art exhibits, supporting the development of local and regional artists and providing educational programs to visitors of all ages,” Pence Gallery Marketing Associate Jenna Matsubara said.
Schultz also shared how this exhibit grew from her own academic interests. The title “Worn” reflects the many ways clothing can carry meaning.
“It was a passion project of mine in grad school,” Schultz said. “I really love looking at clothing more so than any other type of art, and specifically thinking about identity […] I liked the idea that clothing could be worn again […] or that you can try on clothing and put on a new identity […] or that some artists created pieces made of items that are worn out but made into something new and beautiful,” Schultz said.
Schultz then spoke about the Pence Gallery’s continued emphasis on accessibility, diversity and community involvement.
“We acknowledge that many voices from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds have been overlooked or silenced,” Schultz said. “We are committed to creating a space where diversity, equality and inclusion are truly valued.”
As a free community gallery, the Pence invites visitors to engage with art and support local creators through memberships, donations and events. For more information on “Worn” visit the Pence Gallery website.
Written By: Michelle Bekhtel — city@theaggie.org
