Cathy de Monchaux’s exquisitely crafted sculptures are the answer to a control freak’s prayers. Born in London in 196o, she’s made her name with a series of frankly erotic, mischievous variations on the theme of the vagina dentata: symmetrical, wall-mounted mechanomorphs fashioned from velvet, leather, and brass. Until now, de Monchaux has been largely known for her relatively small-scale work. But for her first solo show in a major public space, she is working in an expansive mode: in addition to new wall-mounted pieces, part of the Whitechapel’s Lower Gallery is being transformed into what de Monchaux calls “dream architecture.” May 30-July 27

— James Hall