Elaine Cameron-Weir: ‘Bookends’ at Illingworth Kerr Gallery

Lisson Gallery is pleased to announce ‘Bookends’, the first major solo exhibition in Canada by New York-based sculptor Elaine Cameron-Weir. Curated by Tak Pham, the exhibition opens at Illingworth Kerr Gallery in Calgary on 18 September 2026, bringing together recent and new works that reflect the artist’s ongoing exploration of technology, systems of belief and their material economies.

Cameron-Weir’s sculptural practice examines the systems humans use to navigate the unknown, including science, religion, governance and creative fields. Repurposing objects from scientific, medical, military and spiritual contexts, she transforms found materials into reliquary-like forms that reflect broader structures of belief and power. Combining handcrafted elements such as metalwork, leather tooling and vitreous enamel with mass-produced industrial components, her installations often appear suspended by cables and pulleys, creating a tension between the devotional object and the commercial product.

‘Bookends’ considers the affective charge of embedded histories and former functions, and what systems of power and control leave behind. Through an apocalyptic aesthetic that speaks to the conditions of the present, Cameron-Weir’s sculptures invite viewers to consider the organising myths, technologies and structures that shape contemporary life.

Opening reception: Thursday 17 September, 5–8pm.

Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Calgary, Canada.

18 September – 21 November 2026.

Explore the exhibition here.

Shown here: Installation view 'A WAY OF LIFE', Lisson Gallery, 2024. Photography courtesy of the artist © Elaine Cameron-Weir.