Infant Garment 1986

Barbara Tyson-Mosley made this, Infant Garment, using mixed media. The materials are what grab me first: the rough textures, the muted colors. It's like she's not just depicting something, but building it, layering it into being. Looking closely, I see how she's used these strips of fabric, some stained with what looks like rust or maybe an earthy dye. They’re draped and layered, creating depth. The textures contrast with the smooth, treated background, which feels both aged and deliberate. Notice the orange here and there. It's like a little spark, catching your eye, preventing the work from receding. I love the way she leaves the edges raw, letting the material speak for itself, like a conversation between decay and design. The work reminds me a little of some of the assemblage work that was happening in the mid-century, but with a softer, more personal touch. It's a piece that stays with you, inviting multiple readings, never settling on one fixed meaning.