Artist Michael Greathouse presents 'Child's Play,' a solo exhibition of 12 oil paintings at Step Mother Nature gallery in Bloomingdale. The show features hyper-realistic portraits of vintage stuffed animals from the 1940s-60s, capturing their worn, matted, and sometimes eerie appearance. Gallery owner Daniel A. Bruce curated the show, which runs through June 30, 2026.
The exhibition matters because it explores the uncanny intersection of childhood nostalgia and creeping unease, transforming discarded toys into fine art. By meticulously rendering these objects' decay—matted fur, missing noses, dirty faces—Greathouse invites viewers to reconsider the emotional weight of inanimate companions and the passage of time. The show also includes a community toy collection drive, linking the art to local engagement.