The eleventh annual Boxed In/Break Out features five large-scale wooden dollhouses filled with wallpaper patterns by Joanna Paige Silver (b. 1988). Inspired by her own memories, experiences, and photo diaries, Silver creates nostalgic domestic scenes often in states of disrepair. Imbued with vibrant patterns and paired with floral imagery, Silver’s works evoke the oscillating feelings of disappointment and unwavering hope. In this installation, the bright backgrounds pay homage to the character of the homes found in Savannah but also reflect the disappointment of the housing crisis which has made it difficult for many Americans to reach the milestone of owning a home as an adult.

Guest judge Michael Dickens, Director and Chief Curator of the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, selected Silver’s proposal, writing, “Welcome to the Dollhouse engages the growing affordable housing crisis through the specific lens of Savannah, a city celebrated for its picturesque architecture and stately homes. Like many cities across the United States, Savannah’s beauty exists alongside the reality that homeownership is increasingly out of reach for many residents. This exhibition sits in that uncomfortable space between what we admire and what we struggle with. Joanna Silver draws on the visual language of Savannah’s built environment through wood and painted assemblages in which pattern plays a central role. Referencing details like floor tile and wallpaper, Silver incorporates familiar motifs printed on peel-and-stick surfaces, materials that echo both impermanence and accessibility. These recognizable patterns invite viewers into a space of personal memory and nostalgia, prompting reflection on what “home” means, who it is for, and how fragile that idea can be.”