Skin of Discomfort
The Skin of Discomfort is a solo textile exhibition at Dupont Underground, on view from September 4 through October 4, 2026. Created by Chilean artist Paola Podestá of Valparaíso, the show presents monumental fabric patchworks that use quilt-making as both an artistic medium and a metaphor for collective struggle. Each work addresses urgent contemporary themes, including feminism, environmental justice, fracking, natural resource depletion, immigration, mental health, and human rights, showing how individual scraps of fabric can unite into a larger whole just as individual societal struggles are interconnected. The installation encourages visitors to reflect on sustainability, social justice, and the possibility of building a more equitable future together.
The exhibition is presented alongside Veiled Ladies, a concurrent show at the same venue, and a single general admission ticket grants entry to both exhibitions. A special Evening with the Artist is planned during the run, with the date to be announced. The exhibition is also free during First Friday and Art All Night events.
Venue: Dupont Underground, 19 Dupont Circle Northwest, Washington, DC 20036
When: Friday, September 4, 2026, through Sunday, October 4, 2026
Gallery hours: Fridays, 4:00 PM – 7:30 PM; Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Hours are subject to early closing times for performance schedules; the gallery closes at 1:00 PM on September 12 and at 7:00 PM on September 18.
Tickets: $5 general admission; a single ticket grants entry to both The Skin of Discomfort and Veiled Ladies. Admission is free during First Friday and Art All Night.
Artist: Paola Podestá, textile artist from Valparaíso, Chile
Run time: The exhibition is on display for one month; visitors may move through the installation at their own pace.
Ages: The page does not specify an age restriction.
Co-exhibition: Veiled Ladies, on view concurrently at Dupont Underground
Note: Directions, accessibility information, parking options, and venue policies are available at dupontunderground.org/plan-your-visit.