Above Between Below

Overview

Through vibrant compelling textile works, South Carolina-based artist Mary Edna Fraser conveys breathtaking perspectives of space, earth and deep sea – all developed in collaboration with leading experts in the fields of planetary science, coastal geology and oceanography.

Fraser uses aerial photography, satellite imagery and modern dye technology to create elegant large-scale contemporary textile artwork in the ancient medium of batik. Whether photographing the coast from the open cockpit of her family’s vintage plane or exploring the backwoods of national parks on foot, Fraser distills each adventure into a moment of visual poetry in her studio.

On display will be monumental batiks on silk, Fraser’s signature medium, that reveal the complex patterns of our universe and communicate messages of environmental conservation and stewardship.

Fraser’s pioneering work has been collected and exhibited worldwide. In 1994-95, she was the first woman to be honored with a one-person exhibition at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Her collaborations have been featured by the National Science Foundation, National Academy of Science, Duke university’s Nasher Museum of Art and Emory University, among others.

Complementing lecture and gallery talk with the artist is planned for Thursday, November 12, 2026 (2pm), sponsored by the Museum’s 2026 Bowen Award Fund.