The light in the gallery was soft, diffuse, as if it didn't want to overshadow the artworks or the attentive eyes scanning them. Alys moved among the guests with the confidence of someone who knew every inch of the space, every brushstroke of the exhibited paintings. It was her third solo curation, but perhaps the boldest. The exhibition's theme was direct, provocative: "Skin as a Boundary."

Photographs, sculptures, paintings, and interactive installations revolved around touch—its power, ...