Six Space Paintings, Artist Unknown (All Photos By Gail)

Last Thursday, Stephen Romano Gallery lured me away from my familiar haunts in the Chelsea Gallery District all the way to DUMBO, Brooklyn for its new group exhibition, Mysterium Cosmographicum, featuring works from over 30 international artists on the theme of the artist’s relationship to the cosmos. Seriously, how could you stay away from that? I’d been invited to the opening reception by one of my favorite local artists, Eric Richardson (I am proud to own two of his paintings in my collection) but I was super excited once I got to the gallery to see both Colin Christian and Kris Kuksi, two other fantastic artists whose work I always like to support, participating in the show.

Eric Richardson, Seducer

Colin Christian, Solaris

Colin Christian, Half Pint

Kris Kuksi, Seraphim at Rest

Mysterium Cosmographicum presents a selection of works that demonstrate the variety of responses to the notion of the divine cosmos. I noticed a lot of Outer Space-themed art, and also a lot of art with religious iconography on display and I think the two are not mutually exclusive.

Jana Brike, Severance of The Worlds

Included in the list of internationally active artists with work in this exhibit are Shonagh Adelman (Brooklyn), Steven Baines (Brooklyn), Dan Barry (Austin TX), Jana Brike (Latvia), Paul Campbell (Brooklyn), Judy Chappus (Windosr, Ontario), El Gato Chimney (Italy), Mahwish Chishty (Pakistan/Chicago), Colin Christian (Tampa), Edward Robin Coronel (Austin), Matthew Dutton (Chattanooga TN), Sonya Fu (Hong Kong), James Gallagher (Brooklyn), Limor Gasko (Brooklyn), Teiji Hayama (Switzerland), Alessia Iannetti (Italy), Jumaadi (Australia), Lu Ke (Brooklyn), Tine Kindermann (New York), Pavel Kraus (Brooklyn), Kris Kuksi (Kansas), So Youn Lee (Los Angeles), Joel Lorand (paris), Rene Lynch (Brooklyn), Abby Martin (Washington), Heiko Müller (Germany), Matt Nolen (Brooklyn), Peca (Barcelona), Eric Richardson (New York), Ray Robinson (LaHavre), Gromyko Semper (Manila), Masae Shimoichi (Tokyo), Martin Wittfooth (Brooklyn), and K.B. Yung (Portland ORE).

Here are more of my favorite pieces from the show:

Matthew Dutton, Kelper’s Helper

Shonagh Adelman, Ballet X

Phresha, Mind Control Kitty

Alessia Iannetti, Calliope

The show also includes cosmographic euphemera from throughout history such as plates from Andreas Cellarius’ Harmonia Macrocosmica from 1660 and several works by America’s earliest visionary artist Charles Dellschau (1830 – 1923). The exhibition features several vintage astronomical vernacular photographs, space pulp paintings from the 1960’s, hand-drawn star maps from 1800’s, works by visionary artists William Blayney (1918 – 1985), A. Fiorelo (dates unknown), Romeyn De Hooghe (1645 – 1708), Darcilio Lima (1944 – 1991) and William Mortensen (1897–1965).

Darcilio Lima, The Prince

Teiji Hayama, Madone

Peca, Hopie Dream Miracle

Stephen Romano Gallery is a new addition to the DUMBO arts community, having opened its doors in April of 2014 with the favorably received inaugural exhibition, Welcome To The Dreamtime.

El Gato Chimney, Hermit of The Stars

Mysterium Cosmographicum will be on Exhibit Through August 30th, 2014 at Stephen Romano Gallery, Located at 111 Front Street, Suite 208, DUMBO, Brooklyn.

Art By Matthew Dutton