Exhibition dates: March 1-30, 2026

Valerie Imparato, an innovative and thought-provoking contemporary artist, is pleased to announce the opening of her highly anticipated solo exhibition, “Inherited Degeneration” at Washington Street Gallery from March 1, 2026, through March 30, 2026.

This compelling exhibition invites viewers to explore the intersections of time, identity, grief, memory, and motherhood, as the artist explores her diagnosis of one of the rarest genetic illnesses in the world, all while watching her own mother die of the same illness. The nature of the illness is degenerative, which adds an interesting layer to the work and to the artist’s lived experience.

The artist is currently not ill, but is ostensibly awaiting her illness. The show thereby also explores the concepts of disability and temporary ability, and what it means to be sick versus “well.”

Drawing from Haitian and East African aesthetics, Imparato pushes the boundaries of visual art, using textiles, embroidery, and acrylic paint to create bold and compelling images. Inherited Degeneration features pieces such as “Mother, Daughter” (recently featured at Art Basel Miami), and includes a selection of new and exclusive work.

Inherited Degeneration is “a visual conversation about what it means to be sick. What it means to be a mother. What it means to be a daughter. It is ultimately about the passing of time and the mourning of the current self,” says Imparato. “I hope my work sparks reflection and dialogue about moving through grief and living life on life’s terms, no matter how temporary.”

The opening reception will be held on March 1, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., where Imparato will be in attendance to discuss her work and creative process. This event is free and open to the public, and the artist looks forward to engaging with the local community and art enthusiasts.