Perky Edgerton: Lost In The Woods, Opening Reception at Gross McCleaf Gallery

Opening Reception:
Saturday, October 5, 1 – 4 pm
📍123 Leverington Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19127

Gross McCleaf Gallery is pleased to present “Lost In The Woods”, a solo exhibition of new works by Perky Edgerton. This marks Edgerton’s fourth exhibition with the gallery, featuring paintings that delve into the hidden qualities of natural places. The rural mountains of western Massachusetts where she resides are a powerful influence, with their textures, light, and sensations informing how she builds her landscapes. “The light is so clear and strong that it looks like spotlights,” Edgerton continues, “I want these woody interiors to feel inhabited…to present an intimate view, seeking a feeling of enclosure and secrecy.”

Known for her intricate and layered approach to painting, Edgerton’s dynamic use of materials embraces both fluidity and deep contemplation. Her work is also intertwined with her lifelong love of literature. “I admire how writers craft fiction, what is observed from life and what is left out, and how those chosen details mold the mood of the story,” she reflects. Her process is marked by an openness to change: “I make spontaneous decisions; scrape paint off and start over—change until the very end.” It is this engagement with the surface that allows her to ‘journey’ through each piece, uncovering the core narrative. Edgerton continues, “Each layer in the painting becomes part of its history, making the final work a multidimensional story itself.”

“Lost In The Woods” builds on Edgerton’s long-standing fascination with the mysteries of a forest. In “Wahconah Falls” and “Green River”, Edgerton weaves complex botanical imagery with embedded textural designs, presenting viewers with a kaleidoscope of life. Intriguing, darker elements are present in works such as “Gloaming” and “North Woods”, where her use of translucent glazes and atmospheric blending brings a tense, dreamlike quality to the forest. In “Winter Crows”, the viewer is drawn into a snowy landscape where crows gather, their movement hinting at subtle clues of an unseen disturbance.

Edgerton’s exhibition invites us to explore her world where each painting is an unfolding narrative. Viewers are not merely witnessing a moment, but sharing in the expansive possibilities of suspended reality, becoming part of a magical story.

To learn more about Perky Edgerton and upcoming exhibitions, visit our website: www.grossmccleaf.com