Maia Ruth Lee: The Conveyor: Prospect.6 | Ford Motor Plant

“Prospect.6: The Future is Present, The Harbinger is Home” is an exhibition presenting new works by 51 contemporary artists installed throughout New Orleans. Curated by The Susan Brennan Co-Artistic Directors Miranda Lash and Ebony G. Patterson, the triennial features large-scale and ambitious installations in both galleries and public spaces across the city.

Maia Ruth Lee’s newly commissioned work, The Conveyor (2024), explores themes of migration and rootlessness. The installation features plastic trays circulating on an airport conveyor belt, filled with items like rope, mud, ceramics, and personal belongings, alongside ropes draped with black-and-white banners reminiscent of prayer flags. Commonplace items such as computers contrast with delicate keepsakes and gifts, highlighting the transitory nature of migrants’ journeys.

Additionally, Lee’s Bondage Baggage sculptures, inspired by her childhood experiences at the international airport in Kathmandu, reference the bound parcels found circulating on conveyor belts. Made from linen, clothing, and reclaimed materials, these bundles are meticulously wrapped and tied, symbolizing the stories, ideas, and hopes carried by travelers around the world.