This gallery in the Design District not only exhibits crowd-pleasers, it takes risks that pay off. Gabriel Dawe is an industry favorite who had a massive, critically acclaimed installation at the Amon Carter in Fort Worth, yet his work found a more intimate scale in Conduit's smaller space. He strung an iridescent web of thread between two walls, creating an optical illusion of waves. On the other hand, Heyd Fontenot, former director of Central Trak, created a wild installation akin to his adult version of Pee-Wee's Playhouse. It was complete with (almost) nude live models; one danced provocatively on a makeshift stage while faux snow rained from above. Maria Molteni, who'd never shown in Dallas before, got a local foothold at Conduit. Her brightly colored crocheted basketball nets were hung at NBA-regulation height in the gallery's intimate backroom, giving the delicate assemblages a weighty presence. Whether the space is filled with quiet drawings or larger-than-life installations, there's always something interesting and unexpected behind these doors.
Readers' Pick: Dallas Museum of Art