Constructing Elastic Worlds: From Avant-Garde Exhibition Design to Crip Comfort.

This article examines how avant-garde exhibition design, particularly the work of Austrian-American architect Frederick Kiesler, pioneered flexible and adaptive gallery environments that anticipate diverse bodily needs, including those of disabled visitors. Kiesler's innovations, such as the modular Leger and Trägersystem (L+T System) and adjustable display mechanisms, offered early models for "elastic" exhibition architecture that could accommodate varying heights, movements, and comfort levels. Contemporary disabled artists like Finnegan Shannon build on Kiesler's legacy by creating exhibitions that prioritize "crip comfort" through accessible seating, tactile engagement, and reimagined spatial arrangements, thereby challenging conventional museum design and ableist norms. The article argues that museums must move beyond basic accessibility features like ramps to embrace more comprehensive, disability-led design approaches that consider the full spectrum of embodied experiences. Through historical and present-day examples, the article highlights how disability activism and design intersect to foster more inclusive, equitable museum environments.