'Upside Down Zebra 'at the Watermill Center

This summer, The Watermill Center will present “Upside Down Zebra,” an exhibition exploring the artistic value of children’s imagination, its inherent role in cognitive development, and its profound influence on contemporary art. Curated by artist Brian Belott and Watermill curator Noah Khoshbin, in collaboration with early childhood specialist Jennifer DiGioia, the exhibition opens with a reception on Saturday, June 28, and will feature works from the Rhoda Kellogg International Child Art Collection alongside responses from contemporary artists, opening a dialogue between past and present. At a moment when self-expression in early education is more vital than ever, “Upside Down Zebra” serves as a timely tribute to the unbounded creativity of childhood.

Through Belott and Khoshbin’s vision, Kellogg’s legacy is brought into the present, offering a radical reexamination of artistic value and human cognition that prioritizes collaboration, spontaneity and the untamed joy of creation.

A pioneering early childhood scholar, Rhoda Kellogg (1898–1987), was a theorist, educator and advocate for the arts. Over six decades, she amassed an archive of more than two million drawings by children ages 2 to 8 from over 30 countries. Her research identified universal patterns in early artistic development, revealing the fundamental role of visual language in human cognition. Kellogg developed classification systems charting the evolution of children’s drawings from instinctual scribbles to structured forms, positioning children’s mark-making as an innate form of communication. Kellogg also designed and established a school tailored to her research specifications, which served as a laboratory for her work. The Phoebe A. Hearst Preschool in San Francisco remains in operation today and is open to visitors. Despite her groundbreaking work, Kellogg continues to be an overlooked figure in art and education — a narrative 
“Upside Down Zebra” seeks to redress.

Noah Khoshbin explains “Upside Down Zebra finds its home at The Watermill Center as the works resonate with the center’s own art collection. Our collection is inspired by the groundbreaking work of anthropologist Edmund Snow Carpenter and art historian Carl Schuster, who challenged the notion of cultural singularity by revealing universal visual motifs across time and geography — a shared human instinct.

“The children’s artworks presented are not just charming artifacts, they are proof of something deeper — that before we speak, before we write, we draw,” he continued. “And when we do, we enter the universal, the ubiquitous visual language of childhood. The contemporary artists invited to participate in this exhibition share this understanding. Their contributions bridge the connection between the ‘now’ and the ‘eternal’ for our audience.”

The first component of “Upside Down Zebra” presents approximately 300 pieces of children’s artwork, selected from the Rhoda Kellogg International Child Art Collection. This rare public display of Kellogg’s archive offers visitors an immersive experience that breaks from the traditional exhibition format. The second component of the exhibition brings together 30 contemporary artists whose works engage directly with Kellogg’s archive. Through their diverse approaches, these artists embrace unfiltered spontaneity, highlighting the enduring impact of Kellogg’s research on contemporary artmaking. Curating collected works alongside responses from today’s artists, “Upside Down Zebra” underscores the continuity of artistic play across generations, celebrating the drip, smear, scribble and open gesture as essential forms of creative expression.

Public programming includes artist performances at the opening reception on June 28, and Watermill Center’s annual summer benefit on July 26. A series of talks, workshops, and interactive activities designed for audiences of all ages will occur throughout the exhibition’s run, furthering its mission to elevate and explore the significance of children’s art. “Upside Down Zebra” will remain on view through February 15, 2026.

Watermill Center is at 39 Water Mill Towd Road in Water Mill. For more information, visit watermillcenter.org.