Search

Art

Solo Exhibitions: Martha Rich’s ‘It’s Wild Here’ + Lisa Congdon’s ‘Ode to Kyoto’

10.30.23 | By
Solo Exhibitions: Martha Rich’s ‘It’s Wild Here’ + Lisa Congdon’s ‘Ode to Kyoto’

Old City, Philadelphia-based Paradigm Gallery + Studio recently wrapped up two solo shows featuring the colorful, saturated art of both Martha Rich and Lisa Congdon. Rich’s It’s Wild Here included a display of painted cutouts on wood, chronicling her signature practice of eavesdropping and observing. Currently residing in Philadelphia, Rich uses words and objects to capture the essence of the City a of Brotherly Love and its people in a very candid way. Congdon’s paintings and printed textiles reside within Ode to Kyoto, each piece sparked by an inspiring trip to Japan. The exhibition pays homage to her own experiences in Kyoto and Osaka, while honoring the cultural heritage of the place and its people.

gallery wall filled with small, colorful pieces of painted wood objects and speech balloons reading Martha Rich It's Wild in Here

Rich’s art has been shown throughout the U.S. and internationally, but It’s Wild Here is Rich’s first solo exhibition in her hometown of Philadelphia. As we ride along with the artist for the journey, it’s easy to enjoy the random unpredictability that she’s borrowed from the public. Rich describes it as an “analog Twitter,” a barrage of voices and images just waiting for you to join them.

gallery wall filled with small, colorful pieces of painted wood objects and speech balloons

Rich didn’t gravitate toward painting until later in life, after taking a class taught by painters and brothers Rob and Christian Clayton she enrolled in to help come to terms with a divorce. Rich went on to graduate with honors from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena before earning her MFA in Painting from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

gallery wall filled with small, colorful pieces of painted wood objects and speech balloons

It was during bus rides to class that Rich developed her artistic process of listening and documenting quirky bits and pieces of conversations overheard. These phrases now referred to as “Phillyisms,” are hand-painted inside Rich’s recognizable found plywood speech bubbles, accompanied by a complementary group of objects and symbols.

gallery wall filled with small, colorful pieces of painted wood objects and speech balloons

light-skinned woman with white hair pulled up stands in front of a gallery wall filled with small, colorful pieces of painted wood objects and speech balloons

Martha Rich

red and pink high-top shoe painted on woodred and pink high-top shoe painted on wood

dark red speech bubble reading SKORTS CAFTANS AND FANNY PACKS

pink, yellow, and blue eye painted on wood

dark red speech bubble reading BIG IF TRUE

gallery wall with two bright illustrative pieces of art and a title reading Lisa Congdon Ode to Kyoto

Ode to Kyoto marks artist, illustrator, and bestselling author Congdon’s debut solo exhibition with Paradigm, and the culmination of a curatorial project with The Jaunt. Founded in 2013 by Jeroen Smeets, The Jaunt helps artists gain inspiration through travel. Each trip is funded by the pre-sale of a limited-edition silkscreen print purchased sight unseen by collectors and supporters of the project.

gallery wall with six illustrative banners

Congdon’s personal experience in Kyoto is translated through saturated, graphic illustrations of street goods, patterned kimonos, matchboxes, and more. A mixed media installation includes large pieces of linen sourced from Japan, printed in limited editions. Also featured are two large paintings, a selection of screen-printed textile panels, and an arrangement of small paintings that create a visual collage. Two travel-inspired posters produced in partnership with The Jaunt, “Ode to Kyoto” and “Sanjo Dori Street,” were also on view.

gallery wall covered in bright illustrative pieces of art

Congdon, who is self-taught, didn’t gain career traction until she was almost 40 years old. Since, her untraditional path has awarded her with recognition as an artist, a leader in the industry for her work in social justice, knowledge sharing, mentoring, and teaching. Congdon is known internationally for her work, making art for notable clients, and her 10 books focused on creativity.

gallery wall covered in bright illustrative pieces of art

light-skinned woman with blonde hair and glasses stands in front of gallery wall covered in bright illustrative pieces of art

Lisa Congdon

pink and green flower on blue background

Bloom

two pink and red eyes

Bright Eyes

white, blue, and red fish swims through a blue background

Fish

light green and blue tree on a light pink background

Lone Tree

light blue and red box of matches reading JAPAN

Safety Matches

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.