UPSIDE DOWN ZEBRA
June 28, 2025 – February 15, 2026
Rhoda Kellogg International Child Art Collection
Curated by Brian Belott and Noah Khoshbin
At a moment when self-expression is more vital than ever, Upside Down Zebra offers a
radical reexamination of artistic value and human cognition, placing spontaneity and the
untamed joy of creation at its core.
The exhibition stems from a previous project by Brian Belott, one of the curators of the show,
who presented his sound scribble audio performances at The Watermill Center. After serving as artist-in-residence at the Center during the pandemic, “he now returns, both as artist and curator,” says co-curator Noah Khoshbin, adding that he is “utterly blown away by the quality and power” of the Kellogg Collection.
Spread across six galleries, Upside Down Zebra includes approximately 900 children’s
works from the Rhoda Kellogg International Child Art Collection, presented alongside
more than 35 contemporary artists in direct dialogue with Kellogg’s archive.
Rhoda Kellogg was one of the foremost scholars of children’s art: exploring the spontaneity
and significance of unfiltered mark-making in early childhood, her collection comprises
millions of works created by children across developmental stages: from scribbles to finger
paintings to pictorial works.
“The scribble itself is probably the most meaningful work that exists, because it’s where
meaning is born and where form is born,” says Belott. “Kellogg dedicated her life to mapping the taxonomy of mark-making, from the scribble through its various stages.”
Through a wide range of approaches, the artists involved explore the theme of spontaneity, echoing ideas found in Kellogg’s research and collection. By placing historical works in conversation with contemporary responses, Upside Down Zebra underscores the enduring role of artistic play, celebrating the drip, the smear, the scribble, and the open gesture as fundamental forms of creative expression across generations.
Two major outdoor installations were unveiled on Saturday, July 26, during The Watermill
Center’s Annual Summer Benefit: ABETARE (2024) by Petrit Halilaj, originally
commissioned for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Roof Garden Commission, and
SUNRISE.East (2005) by Ugo Rondinone.
Installed across the grounds of The Watermill Center, both works will be accessible to the public from dawn to dusk through spring 2026.
This long-term exhibition reflects the Center’s ongoing commitment to presenting visionary
contemporary art in dialogue with its unique natural setting.
Upside Down Zebra is supported by Cadogan Tate, Loewe, Phillips, Duggal, Paul J
Herman, The Herget Family Charitable Foundation, Phoebe Hearst Preschool, and the
Suffolk County Department of Economic Development.
