Artsy
5 Standout Shows to See at Small Galleries This January
Jan 2, 2025 1:23PM
Margaret R. Thompson often paints directly under the expansive New Mexican skies. Originally from Washington, D.C., she draws inspiration from the Southwest’s mountainous skylines and vast desert vistas in her surreal and uncanny landscapes populated by goddess-like figures. As she paints outside, she incorporates organic materials like wax, sand, and soil, adding rich, natural textures to her work. These paintings comprise her first solo show, “Sky Mirror,” which is being mounted by Red Arrow Gallery.
One standout painting in the exhibition is Somatic Mirage (all works 2024), depicting a woman braiding another’s hair in front of a floating mirror set against a stylized, mystical landscape with a black sun glowing over the horizon. Other paintings—including Shrine by the Sea, which portrays an ethereal coastal temple surrounded by alternating landscapes depicting both daylight and night—draw inspiration from her travels across the Balearic Islands in Spain.
In 2024, the 34-year-old painter’s work was featured in several international group exhibitions at galleries including smoke the moon, LAMB, and Arusha Gallery. In February 2024, Red Arrow Gallery presented Thompson’s paintings in a solo booth at Zona Maco.