Isaac Couch

On a beautiful blue sky day, I’m proud to announce: THE BLUE - a photo show @compoundyellow Join us April 11 for the opening! The work will be on view until May 9! “I have fallen deep in love with the sky” I’m so sick over what they are doing to our beautiful blue sky; a symbol of love and enlightenment has been bastardized to rain fire and smoke. This show features photographs of the sky taken on my iPhone. This show isn’t about photography or the sky necessarily. It’s about the iPhone as a scrying mirror.. it shows you your ideals and values, but it also shows you your biggest fears… horrors beyond our comprehension… Thanks to Yue for designing the poster: @laaamaluna

Hi! It’s me, Isaac Couch! 2024-26 Fellow with the Chicago Artist Coalition. I am so lucky to have been paired with artist @sangwooyoo_ and curator @frannieflo I am forever grateful <3 Thanks to @rolleynavarro for the incredible and emotional images! I wanted to go over my thoughts on the work I presented. The text that Francine wrote makes Sangwoo and I’s work make so much sense. Still, there are things that are not said due to brevity… So I am going to indulge :P The work is ultimately about grieving lost connections. Whether it be friends, lovers, family members, or acquaintances, loss is something that lingers and dealing with it can be complex… This is me dealing with it. 1. Leave Your Body Behind (Become). The one who hangs in the center of the gallery for all to see. Expressing their virtues and fantasies through the clothes they wear and the shapes they contort their body into. Hoping to live up to their name; to finally leave their body behind and become who they have always wanted to be. Acceptance 2. Left Holding. The one in the back that takes a trek to approach. Seemingly tender, and soft. Their gesture depicts lamentation and adoration. They are just a pair of hands so I suppose they can’t see that there is no body in the dress they are left holding. Only the silhouette of a body; a temporary skin that is shrugged off in discontent. Denial 3. Catching Ashes. How beautiful and so pitiful you are. Don’t you know the ash is useless? You cling to these piles of dust as if they can be shaped into a form that can reconcile with your regrets. A breeze sweeps your hand and it's all gone. A word of advice: Find comfort in the heat of the flame. Let the fire catch you and become the smoke. Its life only lasts a second. The permanence of the ash is tempting, but it's dead. Bargaining 4. Finally, Soft Spot. The one who welcomes you into the gallery. The one who is looking away from you as you approach them. Self-flagellant; wearing cold and heavy chainmail armor against their bare skin. The armor is too hard to pierce through, and too cold to embrace. Depression Don't worry lol the mood will get much lighter tomorrow as I share some BTS! Stay tuned!!

Join us on Friday, January 9 for the opening of 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘐𝘵𝘴 𝘖𝘸𝘯 𝘈𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴, a two-person exhibition by 2024-26 Artist Residents Isaac Couch and Sangwoo Yoo, curated by 2024-26 Curatorial Resident Francine Almeda. 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘐𝘵𝘴 𝘖𝘸𝘯 𝘈𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 is a duo exhibition by Sangwoo Yoo and Isaac Couch that originates from both artists’ personal navigation of loss. Yoo recalls encountering a felled Christmas tree in downtown Chicago as a pivotal moment of unexpected sorrow, its fallen form symbolising both the tree’s life giving force and the grief he holds for friends and family lost; Couch embodies a similar mourning for loved ones lost, drawing upon his upbringing within the American Southern and the constraints of western garment design as a metaphor for the destructive forces of systemic oppression. Although influenced by grief, both artists embrace the potentiality of instability. Working across sculpture, scent, video installation, and garments, Yoo and Couch investigate how these processes of loss (both material and spiritual) can become an alchemic, generative site of transformation. Text by Francine Almeda (@frannieflo ) The opening reception will be from 5-8pm on Friday, January 9 at Chicago Artists Coalition | 1431 W. Hubbard St. #201 Image: Work by an Isaac Couch (left) and Sangwoo Yoo (right) @icouch.work @sangwooyoo_ @frannieflo #IsaacCouch #SangwooYoo #FrancineAlmeda #ChicagoArtistsCoalition

On a gloomy day I give you Look 3 from @luminartsculturalfoundation Illuminate Gala Porscha wearing the Black Canvas Wrap skirt White Ruffle Shirt Chainmail Shawl (made under my direction by @clarkscr ) And a single Heavy Chainmail Earring Makeup by @succubuss.dreamgirl @chdh.makeup.studio Thank you all for the support on this series of Looks! I’m so excited for this next stage of my practice! More coming sooner rather than later!!

All Looks from @luminartsculturalfoundation Illuminate Gala. Thank you so much for having us! It was a blast! Featuring Look 2: Shay styled in the Oversized Faux Sherpa set Gauze Leg and Body Wraps (really leaning into my obsession with Naruto) Of course the Chainmail Top titled ’Soft Spot’ A Heavy Chainmail Earring left And a Light Chainmail Earring on the right Makeup by the wonderful @succubuss.dreamgirl @chdh.makeup.studio

Look 1 for @luminartsculturalfoundation Illuminate Gala Angela in a white linen dress Custom cast made into a corset And a polished chainmail necklace Makeup: @chdh.makeup.studio @succubuss.dreamgirl

Much anticipated shots by @darkstroke66 from Virtue Fashion Show on April 24 @chicagofirstchurch . . . Idk what the overarching message is here, but these images capture an emotional state I’ve been in all year basically. Steady on a grind.. shrouded in shadows.. in darkness.. unclear.. hard to define.. just get the work done

I guess I should blatantly mention that this event is a 3 day fashion pop-up featuring myself and many other designers involved with ‘we are MATERIAL’. You can come see and buy the chainmail you’ve seen me making for months! (Plus many other items I am unofficially officially dropping as a collection that will live and grow through time.) Chainmail started as something I just wanted to try out, but has quickly developed into a meaningful part of my practice. Initially inspired by Dark Souls, I found meaning irl. I always like to redefine elements of blackness and with these necklaces I am thinking about the chains that are prevalent in Black culture. Instead of chaining my people in gold and silver, I will give them armor made of steel. Idk. It’s just a thought I have often when weaving the armor. Anyways… Join myself and the we are MATERIAL crew at: Alma Gallery 3636 S Iron St. Chicago, IL June 12–14: Thursday, June 12 2-9pm Friday, June 13 2-8pm Saturday, June 14 12-5pm Photos by: @omaxlgzo

Breathable but structured My linen shirts are inspired by Japanese workwear and keep sustainability in mind; No waste No closures You can take one home with you, while inventory lasts! Take one home and let it soften with you Join myself and the we are MATERIAL crew at: Alma Gallery 3636 S Iron St. Chicago, IL June 12–14: Thursday, June 12 2-9pm Friday, June 13 2-8pm Saturday, June 14 12-5pm Photos by: @omaxlgzo

Tearing down the Western standard… Without the noise. Form follows function. No logos. No trends. Just shape, weight, and intention. One size, Preorder only. Try it on, Take it in, Find it at home later. Join myself and the ‘we are MATERIAL’ crew at: Alma Gallery 3636 S Iron St. Chicago, IL June 12–14: Thursday, June 12 2-9pm Friday, June 13 2-8pm Saturday, June 14 12-5pm Models: tagged Photos by @omaxlgzo

All Looks in no particular order from the Virtue Fashion Show on April 24 @chicagofirstchurch Photos by: @rancesfay123

A few of my fave BTS shots from April 24 Virtue Fashion Show @chicagofirstchurch Photos by @rancesfay123