February 20, 2013

The New York Times describes Wangechi Mutu as “one of the most exciting artists to be working in collage today.” Ms. Mutu's work is the subject of the inaugural exhibition of the Westphal College’s new Leonard Pearlstein Gallery. The exhibit, running from February 15th to March 30th, features more than 10 collections of collages, sculptures, and installations. The exhibition will include such highly regarded works as Suspended Playtime, which explores Kenyan children’s inventive practice of making soccer balls out of bundled and bound garbage bags, and The Medical Series, a series of provocative collages based on early 20th century medical illustrations. Mutu’s work is housed in the permanent collections of The Museum of Modern Art, New York, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.  She regularly exhibits internationally and was awarded the prestigious Deutsche Guggenheim Artist of the Year in 2010.

The opening celebration and reception at the gallery will be Friday, February 22nd at 5 PM. Noted Philadelphia poet Sonia Sanchez will perform new poetry written to complement Mutu’s work, and acclaimed dancer Tania Isaac, a Drexel Dance professor, has choreographed a new dance piece to be performed by members of the Drexel Dance Ensemble. The Leonard Pearlstein Gallery is located at the new URBN Center Annex (3401 Filbert St.).