Rosemary Mayer’s work investigated the intersections of materiality, temporality, and personal history, drawing heavily from literature, history, and myth. She became known for her use of fabric, rope, and other pliable materials to create sculptural forms that combined the softness and drape of textiles with architectural structure. These works, which she called “draped sculptures,” referenced both Baroque excess and the intimacy of handmade craft, challenging the boundaries between fine art and traditionally feminized forms of making. Her practice extended beyond sculpture into drawing, artist books, and ephemeral public projects. She developed large-scale outdoor works that incorporated snow, balloons, and other impermanent materials, emphasizing change, decay, and the passage of time. These temporary installations were often dedicated to historical or literary figures, blending commemoration with poetic gesture. Mayer’s approach was characterized by a deep engagement with language and history, using visual form to create connections between personal experience and broader cultural narratives. Her works invite viewers into an awareness of fragility and transformation, foregrounding both the sensuous and the fleeting in the experience of art. ...
