"Soft Architectures" opening reception and more...
Tim McFarlane Studio News, April 2026
“Soft Architectures” Opening Reception!
If you’re in Philadelphia this Thursday, 4.09.26, you’re invited to the opening reception of “Soft Architectures: Paper As Structure, Idea & Translation” at the Bridgette Mayer Gallery, where I’m showing four recent works on paper. I’m really honored to have my work in conversation with Jessica Backhaus, Radcliffe Bailey, Ray Beldner, Mel Bochner, Kwame Braithwaite, Francesco Clemente, Will Cotton, Julie Goldstein, Daniel Heyman, Ime Knoebel, Larry Poons, Jon Poblador, Ryan McGinness, Nigel Sense, Kehinde Wiley, and Douglas Witmer.
I’m looking forward to seeing you on Thursday evening, if you can make it!
“Soft Architectures: Paper As Structure, Idea & Translation”
March 4-August 1, 2026
Opening Reception: Thursday, April 9th from 5pm-7:30pm
Bridgette Mayer Gallery: 709 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 1st Floor
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm
Contact: 215.413.8893, E: bmayer@bmayerart.com
“Soft Architectures” is on view until August 1, 2026, but if you’re not able to make it to Philly, here’s a short look at my works in the show:
Now available!
Three new works on paper are now available through the Bridgette Mayer Gallery (BMG)! These pieces were made during February and March of this year and represent my ongoing interest in material presence throughout my work. These pieces are notable for the generous use of glitter as both a textural sensation as well as a unique way to play with light. These works are made with combinations of acrylic, acrylic marker, acrylic mediums, glitter and collage, each is 12 x 9 inches.
Difficult to see in photos are the subtle color shifts that vary between glossy and matte mediums that the glitter is suspended in. It’s best to see these works in person and you can do so during open hours at BMG: Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Ask Emma to see them and she’ll be happy to give you a first hand view!
In progress
Lots going on in the studio as I steadily work towards a major show later this year. I’ve been expanding on ideas first explored with my studio rag-based works shown in “Materiality” at BMG last year. Texture, accumulation, time, process, memory all figure into this new body of work. Since AI and more virtual “living” has been taking over our attention spans and lives in general, I’ve been leaning ever more into tactile sensations and experiences in my work. I’ll be sharing more as this work develops over the next few months.
Exit: More science and humanity, less war and distress
My eyes have looked to the stars since I was a kid, wondering what’s really out there and wanting to experience firsthand wonders that lie so far afield. That curiosity is probably why science fiction has had such a hold on my imagination. Not as escape, but a glimpse into speculative ideas of what could be. Now, with the Artemis mission underway and on the way back home from it’s closest approach to the lunar surface on Monday, my giddy, childlike excitement for space exploration is back.
I made Deep Field Longing in March after checking out some images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and having recently finished Andy Weir’s book, “Project Hail Mary” (now a major motion picture, as they used to say). Considering all of the negative things happening right now, it’s great to have this amazing achievement of the Artemis mission to feel good about.
Thanks for reading and I’ll be back in May with more studio news! -Tim