The Brandywine Museum of Art has announced a new group exhibition titled "Abundance/Excess: A Contemporary Eye on Still Life," featuring works by 10 contemporary artists. The show is divided into two thematic sections: "Abundance," which examines the history of wealth and commerce in America, and "Excess," which focuses on the environmental and social consequences of overconsumption. Curated by Kerry Bickford, the exhibition includes diverse media ranging from traditional painting to works made from discarded materials like trash-picked toys and grocery flyers.
This exhibition matters because it recontextualizes the historically "low" genre of still life as a potent vehicle for modern political and ecological critique. By moving beyond mere aesthetic experimentation, the featured artists use the symbolism of bounty and decay to address urgent global issues such as industrial extraction and the ethics of the American consumer landscape. The show highlights how traditional art forms can be revitalized to reflect contemporary anxieties regarding sustainability and economic disparity.