July 08, 2015

Renowned for her dark and romantic artificial worlds, Lauren Fensterstock fashions flora and grottos from meticulously crafted paper, shiny black plexi-glass, pulverized charcoal and rubber-coated seashells. Evocative of ornate garden traditions predating the 19^th century, her monolithic three-dimensional pieces are striking from a distance, but it’s up close where the viewer can absorb the intricate detail of her monochromatic creations. Her first solo exhibition in Philadelphia, Forays and Follies will highlight the visual seductions of Fensterstock’s enclosed gardens. The show will open in the Pearlstein Gallery with a reception on Friday, July 17 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Named one of the top nine trending artists at Basel Miami 2015, Fensterstock's work is housed in collections across the globe. Her recent exhibitions include a solo show at the John Michael Kohler Art Center, The Contemporary Austin (formerly Arthouse - the Austin Museum of Art) and the San Francisco Museum of Craft and Design, among others.

Defining the garden as a complete and enclosed world, the artist’s sumptuously textured works comingle the Baroque with the Contemporary and evoke the forms found in minimalism and color-field painting. The pieces are at once opulent and subtle, grand and intricate.

Forays and Follies will be on display in the Leonard Pearlstein Gallery (3401 Filbert St.) from July 17 to August 28. The gallery is free and open to the public Wednesday – Sunday, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. The opening reception on Friday, July 17 will include refreshments to be served outdoors in the yard, weather permitting.