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Inside Outside, Upside Down


The Phillips Collections presents this special juried invitational exhibition

Featuring dynamic work across media by 64 artists of the greater DC region, this juried invitational celebrates The Phillips Collection’s 100th anniversary, building on the legacy of founder Duncan Phillips and his commitment to presenting, acquiring, and promoting the work of artists of the greater DC region.

Inside Outside, Upside Down offers a slice of the turbulent past year, one that left us confused, battered, and disoriented. Out of the palpable thoughts and feelings expressed in the works on view, five themes emerged: “Innocence Interrupted” recognizes the young children and young adults whose lives were upended by the constant fear and uncertainty brought on by so much violence and death; “Days of Reckoning and the Right to ‘Be’” speaks to the forced realization that our country is at a major crossroads, as many long-established societal systems have become increasingly out of touch, obsolete, and even detrimental to a population whose needs are constantly evolving; “Bearing Witness” represents the artists who document the times in which they live, making sure that we record, reflect, and remember; “Introspection and Reflection” examines what happens when Washington, DC, is forced to come to a standstill, with some of us sitting quietly with ourselves, while others had to confront the dynamics of their relationships; and “Hope and Healing” illustrates how art has the ability to help us process and heal in times of pain and great loss, allowing us to celebrate the simple joys in life.

Taken together, the works in this exhibition affirm the human need to make sense of traumatic experiences and ultimately transcend them, either by creating from that place or in spite of it. In this way, these works offer a collective call for healing. They invite us to appreciate the beauty in the world around us, find comfort in our family and friends, and unearth the things that are revealed to each of us when life requires us to sit still with ourselves.

Featured Artists

Cathy Abramson – Simone Agoussoye –  Maremi Andreozzi – Carol Antezana – Desmond Beach

Julia Bloom – Michael Booker – Kimberly Brammer – Nikki Brugnoli – Florencio Campello  

Carlos Carmonamedina – Sandra Chen Weinstein – Peter Cizmadia – Wesley Clark   

Dominick Cocozza – Robin Croft – Sora DeVore – Sarah Dolan – Mike Dowley – Nekisha Durrett

Tae Edell – Bria Edwards – Kate Fleming – Chawky Frenn – Amelia Hankin – Michael Hantman

Leslie Holt – Michael Janis – Jane Kell – Jean Jinho Kim – Katherine Knight – Ara Koh – Kokayi 

Gary Kret – Kate Kretz – Catherine Levinson – Kirsty Little – Kim Llerena – Aaron Maier-Carretero

Timothy Makepeace – David Mordini – Barbara Muth – Werllayne Nunes – Zsudayka Nzinga

Jennifer O’Connell – John Pan – Judith Peck – Shedrick Pelt – Kristina Penhoet   

Marta Pérez García – Lydia Peters – Junko Pinkowski – Dominick Rabrun – Mojdeh Rezaeipour

Marie Ringwald – Janathel Shaw – Joseph Shetler – Nicolas F. Shi – Tim Tate – Julio Valdez

Jessica Valoris – Ian White – Richard L. Williams Jr. – Colin Winterbottom

Earlier Event: May 6
WPA COLLECTORS' NIGHT 2021
Later Event: July 20
Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love