Abundance/Excess: A Contemporary Eye on Still Life will gather works by 10 contemporary artists who draw on the legacy of still life painting in their practice. Still life has a long reputation as a genre for aesthetic experimentation, and the artists in Abundance/Excess continue in this tradition of exploration and play while also incorporating still life’s thematic emphasis on time, impermanence, and the politics of bounty.
The first section of the exhibition, Abundance, will feature contemporary artworks that interrogate the forms and distribution of wealth in American history, and to question how we buy and sell in the present. The second section of the exhibition, Excess, considers the environmental and social impacts of overconsumption. Many of the featured artworks incorporate discarded and repurposed materials, including bath towels, trash-picked toys, and collaged grocery flyers. As a whole, the artists in Abundance/Excess use representations of fish, fruit, meat, and flowers to consider larger questions about the effects and consequences of industrial extraction and production.
Artists in the exhibition are Kate Abercrombie, Sungho Bae, Katie Butler, Ilana Harris-Babou, Nadia Hironaka and Matthew Suib, King Cobra, Tamara Kostianovsky, sTo Len, Cara Romero, and Misha Wyllie.
Exhibition-related Programs and Events:
Behind-the-Scenes: Abundance/Excess
Tuesday, March 17 from 7–8 p.m.
A virtual program where associate curator Kerry Bickford highlights pieces from the special exhibition.
Making Abstract Art: Improvisation and Play
Saturday, March 21 from 1–4 p.m.
Join exhibiting artist Misha Wyllie for a playful workshop exploring abstract art techniques rooted in meditation and flow.
Art Chat: Abundance/Excess
Join fellow art enthusiasts at the Museum for a lively discussion of artwork from our special exhibition, Abundance/Excess: A Contemporary Eye on Still-Life.
- Wednesday, April 1, 2026 from 1–2 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 8, 2026 from 1–2 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 15, 2026 from 1–2 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from 1–2 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 29, 2026 from 1–2 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 6, 2026 from 1–2 p.m.
Spring-Break Read-Aloud
Thursday, April 2 from 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Young children and their grown-ups will listen to a story followed by an interactive tour of Abundance/Excess before completing a creative craft activity.
Still-Life Workshop with Randall Graham
Saturday, April 18 from 12–4 p.m.
Join teaching artist Randall Graham for a gallery discussion and workshop exploring still-life painting techniques.
Creative Mending: The Art of the Patch
Sunday, April 19 from 1–3:30 p.m.
Join fiber artist Julie Woodard to learn more about textile repair along with building skills in stitching and applique.
An Abundance of Beauty: Floral Arranging with Native Plants of the Region
Tuesday, April 21 from 6:30–7:30 p.m.
A virtual workshop led by horticulturist Natasha Vadas exploring floral design using native plants of the Brandywine Valley with emphasis on their ecological importance.
First Free Sunday for Families
Sunday, May 3 from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Along with free admission, Museum visitors will enjoy a morning of creative art activities and lively entertainment from popular musical group Two of a Kind.
Stroller Tour: Abundance/Excess
Friday, May 8 from 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Participants will enjoy a relaxed guided tour designed especially for adults accompanied by babies featuring the Abundance/Excess exhibition.
Local Abundance: A Native Bouquet Building Workshop
Sunday, May 17 from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Guided by horticulturist, Amy Lang and Brandywine’s Public Engagement Coordinator, Julia Steiner, create your own native bouquet as you learn about local plants, mindfully gather materials, and craft a unique arrangement to take home.
Abundance/Excess: Virtual Artists Panel
Tuesday, May 19 from 7–8 p.m.
In this online program, exhibiting artists Ilana Harris-Babou, sTo Len, and Tamara Kostianovsky will discuss overlapping themes of their work and practices.
First Free Sunday for Families
Sunday, June 7 from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Along with free admission, Museum visitors will enjoy a morning of creative art activities and lively entertainment from Musicopia’s Recycled Sounds.
Brandywine’s Little Free Library
At select programs, Brandywine’s mobile LFL will be available to visitors. Bring your own gently used books to donate to the library or find a new-to-you book to borrow or keep.
Support for this exhibition is provided by the Every Page Foundation and the Tuttleman Family Foundation.
Aetna Better Health Kids proudly supports exhibition programming.