SoiL Thornton8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton

The Wattis Institute, San Francisco

Exterior view with Husband Chair (Wattis), 2026. Vinyl stitched, velcro, blower. 268 x 65 1/2 x 65 1/2 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Maxwell Graham, New York. Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

Exterior view with Husband Chair (Wattis), 2026. Vinyl stitched, velcro, blower. 268 x 65 1/2 x 65 1/2 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Maxwell Graham, New York. Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

Exterior view, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

Exterior view, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

A years worth of calm soothing and restful at 15 seconds a day (According to color psychology, blue is the most calming color for the mind; pink is the most physically soothing and will leave you feeling swaddled. Green, the color of nature, is the least demanding of all the colors and is very restful on the eye), 2025. Video, color, 91 min. Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick. Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Neu, Berlin.

A years worth of calm soothing and restful at 15 seconds a day (According to color psychology, blue is the most calming color for the mind; pink is the most physically soothing and will leave you feeling swaddled. Green, the color of nature, is the least demanding of all the colors and is very restful on the eye), 2025. Video, color, 91 min. Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick. Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Neu, Berlin.

A years worth of calm soothing and restful at 15 seconds a day (According to color psychology, blue is the most calming color for the mind; pink is the most physically soothing and will leave you feeling swaddled. Green, the color of nature, is the least demanding of all the colors and is very restful on the eye), 2025. Video, color, 91 min. Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick. Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Neu, Berlin.

Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

Installation view 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton featuring Exhibition Assist: Sara Dean & Benner Boswell Public Furniture: Move It!, 2023. Wood, tires. 94 x 22 1/4 x 22 1/2 inches. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

1, 2, 3,
breathe, 2025. Found drawing of graphite on paper, space to think, proposal advertisement for choosing_suitor_intervention 2023 as Many Of Them issue 10 cover, matted and framed. 22 x 38 inches. Courtesy of Galerie Neu, Berlin. Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

tactile consolidation of my experience trying the most expensive mattresses available to me on January 13, 2026 (its said that sleep is the cousin of death and also that sleep is one of the most radical or only escapes from capitalism, but similar to the western industry for leaving the world, the best sleep only few can access), 2026. Archival inkjet prints, (photographs of mattresses post lay tests 1, 2, 3 and 4, email communication with mattress specialist who helped me during testing, post testing), and printed documents (quote for my fave mattress tested, quote for the most expensive mattress that was tested and available to me) matted.Print 1: 60 x 17 inches. Print 2: 20 x 13 1/2 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Maxwell Graham, New York. Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

Detail of tactile consolidation of my experience trying the most expensive mattresses available to me on January 13, 2026 (its said that sleep is the cousin of death and also that sleep is one of the most radical or only escapes from capitalism, but similar to the western industry for leaving the world, the best sleep only few can access), 2026. Archival inkjet prints, (photographs of mattresses post lay tests 1, 2, 3 and 4, email communication with mattress specialist who helped me during testing, post testing), and printed documents (quote for my fave mattress tested, quote for the most expensive mattress that was tested and available to me) matted. Print 1: 60 x 17 inches. Print 2: 20 x 13 1/2 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Maxwell Graham, New York. Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

Installation view 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton featuring Exhibition Assist: Sara Dean & Benner Boswell Public Furniture: Move It!, 2023. Wood, tires. 94 x 22 1/4 x 22 1/2 inches. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

pink, blue, white, 2024. Archival inkjet print, Phosphorescent Green (glow in the dark) acrylic (which has the ability to absorb and store natural and artificial light. When the light source is removed (i.e.: when the lights are turned off or the painted object is taken into a dark area), a bright, greenish glow is emitted for up to 15 minutes. The glow steadily diminishes as the stored light energy is released), and acrylic Gel Topcoats w/UVLS (thick acrylic gel mediums containing Ultra Violet Light Filters and Stabilizers (UVLS) to protect materials from fading and deterioration caused by exposure to UV radiation) on canvas. 114 x 56 inches (290 x 142 cm). Courtesy of the artist and Maxwell Graham, New York. Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

pink, blue, white, 2024 (shown at night). Archival inkjet print, Phosphorescent Green (glow in the dark) acrylic (which has the ability to absorb and store natural and artificial light. When the light source is removed (i.e.: when the lights are turned off or the painted object is taken into a dark area), a bright, greenish glow is emitted for up to 15 minutes. The glow steadily diminishes as the stored light energy is released), and acrylic Gel Topcoats w/UVLS (thick acrylic gel mediums containing Ultra Violet Light Filters and Stabilizers (UVLS) to protect materials from fading and deterioration caused by exposure to UV radiation) on canvas. 114 x 56 inches (290 x 142 cm). Courtesy of the artist and Maxwell Graham, New York. Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

Left to right: A paws with container mediations meets applied early developmental freedom of expression, 2023. Pre glued building blocks from my neighbors "free" box, epoxy, and commercial grade chromakey paint on Acacia wood Fold-Up Dog Gate. 60 7/16 x 29 3/4 x 2 3/8 inches (153.5 x 75.6 x 6 cm). Courtesy of the artist and Maxwell Graham, New York.

actualizing implications of self care through world care via capitals regenerative processes, i mean earths, 2022. Voucher for my purchase of Loop mycelium coffin for self, mycelium material sample choices to be used for coffin, letter from the owner of Loop, mat and wood frame. 22 x 15 1/2 inches (56 x 39 cm). Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Neu, Berlin. Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

A paws with container mediations meets applied early developmental freedom of expression, 2023. Pre glued building blocks from my neighbors "free" box, epoxy, and commercial grade chromakey paint on Acacia wood Fold-Up Dog Gate. 60 7/16 x 29 3/4 x 2 3/8 inches (153.5 x 75.6 x 6 cm). Courtesy of the artist and Maxwell Graham, New York. Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

actualizing implications of self care through world care via capitals regenerative processes, i mean earths, 2022. Voucher for my purchase of Loop mycelium coffin for self, mycelium material sample choices to be used for coffin, letter from the owner of Loop, mat and wood frame. 22 x 15 1/2 inches (56 x 39 cm). Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Neu, Berlin. Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

Left to right: Chamber Orchestra reacquisition, 2025. Printed text and photo prints matted and framed in two parts. 27 1/2 x 55 inches ( 70 x 140 cm) and 17 x 25 inches (43 x 64 cm). Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Neu, Berlin.

pink, blue, white, 2024 (shown at night). Archival inkjet print, Phosphorescent Green (glow in the dark) acrylic (which has the ability to absorb and store natural and artificial light. When the light source is removed (i.e.: when the lights are turned off or the painted object is taken into a dark area), a bright, greenish glow is emitted for up to 15 minutes. The glow steadily diminishes as the stored light energy is released), and acrylic Gel Topcoats w/UVLS (thick acrylic gel mediums containing Ultra Violet Light Filters and Stabilizers (UVLS) to protect materials from fading and deterioration caused by exposure to UV radiation) on canvas. 114 x 56 inches (290 x 142 cm). Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

Husband Chair (Wattis), 2026. Vinyl stitched, velcro, blower. 268 x 65 1/2 x 65 1/2 inches (6.8 x 1.66 x 1.66 m). Courtesy of the artist and Maxwell Graham, New York. Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

Husband Chair (Wattis), 2026. Vinyl stitched, velcro, blower. 268 x 65 1/2 x 65 1/2 inches (6.8 x 1.66 x 1.66 m). Courtesy of the artist and Maxwell Graham, New York. Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

Husband Chair (Wattis), 2026. Vinyl stitched, velcro, blower. 268 x 65 1/2 x 65 1/2 inches (6.8 x 1.66 x 1.66 m). Courtesy of the artist and Maxwell Graham, New York. Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.

Detail of Husband Chair (Wattis), 2026. Vinyl stitched, velcro, blower. 268 x 65 1/2 x 65 1/2 inches (6.8 x 1.66 x 1.66 m). Courtesy of the artist and Maxwell Graham, New York. Installation view, 8 Hours of Rest: SoiL Thornton, January 20 - March 7, 2026, The Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco. Photo: Robert Divers Herrick.