Emma Gray HQ is delighted to present “Something” a two person show comprising the sculptures of James Herman and the embroidered textiles of Vanessa Chow. A focal point is the form of the spiral - which have held a timeless allure in contemporary art, captivating artists with their symbolic depth and aesthetic appeal. From installations to paintings, sculptures to digital art, spirals serve as versatile motifs representing evolution, growth, and the cyclical nature of life.

The spiral is often employed to convey a sense of movement, transformation, and infinite possibilities, exploring themes of journey, self-discovery, and the interconnectedness of life. Perhaps the most famous artwork is “The Spiral Jetty” a sculpture constructed in April 1970 that is considered to be the most important work of American sculptor Robert Smithson.  

James Herman was born in Denver, Colorado in 1985. He studied at the Yale Norfolk School of Art in 2010 and received a BFA in Studio Art from the University of Oregon in 2011. His work has appeared in solo shows at Various Small Fires, Los Angeles, CA and Ibid Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, and in group exhibitions at Scranch, Joshua Tree, CA; HOLIDAY, Los Angeles, CA; Night Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; Roberts and Tilton, Los Angeles, CA; Matéria, Rome; Cabrillo National Monument, Point Loma, CA; the Henry Ford Museum, Detroit, MI; and the Rio Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT. An edition of his broken tile lamps are available at the MOCA Store. He currently lives and works in Los Angeles.



Vanessa Chow (b 1976 in Hong Kong) currently lives and works in Los Angeles. She received her M.F.A. from the Rhode Island School of Design. She has exhibited in spaces such as the Armory Center for the Arts, the Brand Library, Steve Turner Gallery, Tiger Strikes Asteroid among others in Los Angeles. She has also exhibited in New York, Germany and Hong Kong. But most important, being able to raise two great kids, gaining the ability to surf with a lunch tray, and having traveled on the Trans-Siberian railroad are among her proudest accomplishments.