THE UNTITLED SPACE OPENS “SKYE CLEARY NEVER GETS OLD” ON MARCH 15TH AND ANNOUNCES AN ARTIST TALK WITH THE SEX DOLL-IDENTIFYING ARTIST

View photos from the opening reception of “SKYE CLEARY NEVER GETS OLD” exhibit at the Untitled Space

The Untitled Space is currently presenting a unique new exhibition by sex doll-identifying artist Skye Cleary titled,  “SKYE CLEARY NEVER GETS OLD,” presented in collaboration with artists Lisa Levy, Sharilyn Neidhardt, and Meryl Meisler. Curated by Indira Cesarine, the exhibit opened on March 15, 2024 with an artist reception, and is on view through March 29, 2024, with an artist talk from 6:00 – 8:00 PM on March 28th. Following the packed opening reception, on Thursday, March 28th the gallery will have Skye speak in conversation with Marina Granger, a New York City-based art consultant and founder of The Artist Advisory. 

Premiering over 20 acrylic on canvas paintings, “SKYE CLEARY NEVER GETS OLD” unveiled the artist’s introspective journey, drawing inspiration from her experiences as an exotic dancer and the exploration of her identity as a sex doll. Additionally, the exhibition debuted a captivating series of photographs by the renowned nightlife photographer Meryl Meisler, documenting Skye’s intriguing life at the House Of Yes. This marked Skye Cleary’s most expansive solo exhibition to date, following successful showcases at SPRING/BREAK Art Show, Satellite Art Fair, and Arcade Projects.

Spanning various mediums including performance, text, illustration, and painting, Skye Cleary’s artwork challenges conventional boundaries and celebrates the complexity of female identity. Her narrative has resonated with audiences worldwide, sparking conversations about autonomy, representation, and societal expectations.

Skye Cleary, the sex doll artist, was conceived by Lisa Levy in 2018. While doing research on the human imagination, Levy was gifted a sex doll from a prominent therapist. She realized that this symbol of a beautiful young woman could be useful to give voice to the messages of self-empowerment she imparts to young women on her radio show and in person. 

She called on her close friend and painter, Sharilyn Neidhardt, to work with her to give voice and artistic presence to Skye Clearly. Like the creative process used to create advertising, copywriter and art director working in teams, Sharilyn and Lisa began creating paintings and therefore a life for Skye.

Skye Cleary’s job presents her as an object more than as a whole person—the talented artist that she is. She worries that the art world won’t take her seriously because of her exotic dancing and life as a sex worker. The work she makes is driven by, and about, this conflicting mix of motivations. In essence, the role of the sex doll has come full circle. Once thought of as a human-like object for a sex partner, Skye is still in the role of a beautiful young woman, but instead of a sex partner, she now has an art career.

Much of the contemporary art world is concerned with identity. With AI art, we are asking, “who is the artist?” An important question posed here is: “can a doll be the artist?”

“SKYE CLEARY NEVER GETS OLD”
A Solo Exhibition
Presented in collaboration with
Lisa Levy, Sharilyn Neidhardt, and Meryl Meisler
March 15 – 29, 2024
Artist Talk
March 28, 2024 | 6-8pm
The Untitled Space
45 Lispenard Street, NYC 10013
RSVP events@untitled-space.com

Event photos by Tequila Minsky, Jeffrey Grossman, and guests.