The SLU Contemporary is proud to host Arsenal, a solo exhibition of new textile works by Addole Dzegede, Artist-in-Residence at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Arsenal looks back to the middle of the nineteenth century when a monumental shift in color began to take place. This exhibition examines these transitions through an exploration of both natural and synthetic dyes, deploying an arsenal of techniques using batik, screen printing, mordant painting, and other dyeing methods. The title Arsenal refers to the colonial battles over sourcing natural dyes from the global South, the connection between dye chemistry and weapons of war, and the range of methods developed over centuries around the world to create pattern and color using dyes.

The gallery will host Arsenal from October 6th to November 5th, 2026.

A textile dyeing workshop with Addoley Dzegede will take place November 2nd, at 12:00 PM. Addoley Dzegede’s Artist Talk will take place on November 5th, at 4:00 PM followed by a closing reception at 5:00 PM,