EXHIBITION: Critical Mass: The Power of Pop Culture

It’s the summer of nostalgia, neon, and not-so-guilty pleasures—Critical Mass: The Power of Pop Culture brings together a dynamic force of contemporary artists who remix, reframe, and reimagine the icons that shaped generations. From Saturday morning cartoons and superhero archetypes to surreal suburban dreamscapes and high-gloss kitsch, this exhibition taps into the collective memory of American pop culture—and cranks the volume to 11. With bold colors, strange creatures, cinematic tropes, and a wink toward the absurd, these works capture the energy of a world constantly flipping between fantasy and reality.

This isn’t just an exhibit—it’s a fever dream of pop culture powerhouses. Atlanta-based artists Sarah Emerson, Melissa Sims, Vanna Black, and Michael Jones are joined by Memphis’ celebrated painter Beth Edwards, Mississippi’s whimsical surrealist Jon Rappleye, Augusta’s up-and-comer Dylan Smeak, and UGA’s own Joe Peragine, bringing a curated overload of paintings, sculptures, and installations that feel as familiar as your favorite VHS tape—and just as unexpected.

Whether you were raised on He-Man or haunted by mall mannequins, Critical Mass explores how art amplifies, distorts, and celebrates the cultural clutter that made us.

It’s chaotic. It’s clever. It’s critical mass.

Opening Night Reception: July 17, 2025, 6pm-8pm