“Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight,” a site-specific installation by renowned American artist Betye Saar, is on view at The Huntington through November 2025.
“Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight” transforms an entire room in The Huntington’s Scott Galleries into what the artist calls a “cocoon-like environment.” The walls are painted in an oceanic blue gradient, featuring a poem by Saar and phases of the moon. Shifting lighting effects in the gallery emulate phases of daylight to twilight, evening to night, and night to dawn. Inside the canoe, Saar positions mysterious “passengers,” including antlers in metal birdcages, children’s chairs, and architectural elements—all drawn from the artist’s ever-evolving collection of found objects. The space beneath the canoe is illuminated by a cool neon glow, highlighting plant material.