MALVERN, PA — The Wharton Esherick Museum has unveiled a new exhibition that shifts the spotlight from its namesake to a long-overlooked creative force in his life — Leticia (Letty) Nofer Esherick.
Titled Working at a Joyous Creative Thing: Weaving, Making, and Material Culture in Letty Esherick’s Legacy, the installation is curated by current Artist-in-Residence Kelly Cobb. The exhibition highlights Cobb’s ongoing research into Letty’s artistic contributions, presenting original textiles, garments, weaving samples, and unfinished works dating from the 1940s through her death in 1975.
Unlike most resident artists at the museum, who focus on Wharton Esherick’s body of work, Cobb has concentrated her research on Letty, a dancer, educator, and artist in her own right. Although Wharton’s career was significantly shaped by Letty’s financial and intellectual support, her own artistic endeavors have often been overlooked.
The exhibition marks the first public presentation of Letty’s textiles in more than 50 years. The pieces are displayed alongside new works by Cobb and contributions from collaborators across disciplines, including embroidery, sound art, and handmade garments. Together, the installation situates Letty’s creative practice within larger conversations about artistic ambition, gendered labor, and the resilience of women artists.
Cobb’s research draws on material studies of Letty’s textiles, WEM’s archival records, and fieldwork at institutions such as the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, where Letty studied weaving in the late 1940s. The project has been supported by a University of Delaware College of Arts and Sciences Go Grant.
The exhibition represents the midpoint of Cobb’s residency. Additional programs exploring her findings will be held this fall, with further creative outcomes to be shared in spring 2026.
By foregrounding Letty’s work, the Wharton Esherick Museum offers visitors a new perspective on the Esherick legacy — one that recognizes not only Wharton’s celebrated artistry but also the enduring contributions of his partner.
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