Gladys Nilsson: Gleefully Askew

Born in Chicago in 1940, Gladys Nilsson is best known for her watercolors of long-limbed figures engaged in everyday micro-dramas. As a member of Chicago’s Hairy Who in the 1960s, Nilsson made watercolors that earned her a reputation as the most “feminine” member of the group—a characterization that she has challenged and spoofed throughout her career. Nilsson’s self-reflexive approach has guided her experimental practice, which also includes Plexiglas paintings, largescale diptychs, embroidery-hoop paintings, drawings, prints, and mixed-media collages. Gleefully Askew: A Gladys Nilsson Retrospective is on view from July 19 — November 29, 2026 at the Crocker Art Museum.