Andrew Mowbray: New Heraldic Ordinaries

Andrew Mowbray: New Heraldic Ordinaries presents a series of personal crests, or “ordinaries,” made from commercially produced Tyvek. Drawing on the geometric symbols traditionally used in heraldry to identify families, institutions, and nations, Mowbray creates repeated shield-like frames containing individualized arrangements of shapes, forms, and symbols. The blank nameplates invite anyone to claim a lineage, reframing heraldry’s historic ties to nobility and wealth.

Mowbray’s intricate sewn works explore the tension between handmade and industrial production, fine art and craft, and traditionally feminine and masculine forms of making. His soft, whimsical Tyvek pieces reinterpret the hardness and exclusivity associated with conventional coats of arms while reflecting on history and earlier ideas of domestic life.

When: October 12 through November 21

Venue: Carol Schlosberg Gallery, Montserrat College of Art Galleries

Reception: Saturday, October 17, from 3 to 5 p.m.

Artist Talk: Wednesday, November 4, from 11 a.m. to noon

Artist: Andrew Mowbray

Materials and Approach: Since 2006, Mowbray has used commercially available Tyvek as a primary material, sewing it into works reminiscent of quilts and samplers. He incorporates and disguises Tyvek’s standard graphics and restricted palette of white, blue, orange, and red to produce varied patterns and compositions.

Exhibition Concept: The works take inspiration from medieval European heraldic ordinaries, geometric devices displayed on shields or coats of arms to represent family, institutional, or national identity. Each piece establishes a recurring frame and fills it with a distinct configuration of symbols, while leaving its nameplate blank so viewers can imagine their own connection or ancestry.

Featured Work: “Unnamed Crests 1–10,” 2026, made with Tyvek Home Wrap and thread, measuring 37 by 31 inches

Artist Background: Raised in Duxbury and based in Dorchester, Mowbray earned a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art and an MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. His project-based work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.

Collections: His work is held by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum; Wellington Management; Fidelity Investments; and numerous private collections.

Recognition: Mowbray’s work has been reviewed in *Art in America* and featured in *Sculpture Magazine*. He has received grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the LEF Foundation, and the Artists Resource Trust.

Current Position: Mowbray is Associate Teaching Professor in Art and Director of 3D Arts at Wellesley College.

Tickets: Price not available