Mavis Pusey’s Inaugural Solo Museum Exhibition Highlights Her Contributions to Geometric Abstraction

Mavis Pusey: Mobile Images is a landmark exhibition that offers a comprehensive survey of the influential career of Mavis Pusey, a Jamaica-born artist whose work in geometric abstraction has garnered critical acclaim. Opening at ICA Philadelphia on July 12 and on display until December 7, this exhibition will later travel to the Studio Museum in Harlem in the spring of 2027. Curated with a keen focus on Pusey’s prolific 50-year career, Mobile Images is a culmination of over ten years of research and collaboration, providing fresh perspectives on her legacy in the art world.

Mavis Pusey (1928–2019) is celebrated for her vibrant paintings and paper works, steeped in her experiences in fashion, printmaking, and urban life. Despite her international acclaim, her contributions have often been overlooked, making this museum survey both timely and significant. The exhibition aims to recontextualize Pusey’s impact on abstract art, with a particular focus on her exploration of destruction and renewal as seen in her Broken Construction series from the 1960s to the 1990s. This powerful work reflects themes relevant to contemporary society, symbolizing societal change through abstract forms.

Through a display of paintings like “Personante” (1990), “Within Manhattan” (1977), and “Spase” (1967), the exhibition highlights Pusey’s mastery of color and form. Additionally, her lithograph “Paris, Mai–Juin” (1968) showcases her skill in printmaking. Complementing these artworks, the exhibition includes photographs, personal notes, and archival materials that provide deeper insights into her process and the socio-historical context of her work.

Mobile Images is a pivotal retrospective that not only celebrates Pusey’s artistic achievements but also invites audiences to reconsider her contributions to the broader discourse of contemporary art. For more information, visit icaphila.org.