Mary Crenshaw: Inhale

Inspired by a chance encounter – a glimpse of children’s drawings through a daycare center window – Mary Crenshaw’s latest exhibition, ‘Inhale,’ explores themes of migration and displacement through a striking juxtaposition. The show features portraits of immigrants alongside paintings of discarded cigarette butts embedded in city sidewalks, transforming the mundane into a poignant metaphor for the transient lives of migrants. Crenshaw utilizes thrifted, worn frames to elevate these seemingly insignificant objects, creating ghostly presences that evoke a sense of forgotten stories. The concept, born from a summer walk, reflects on the often-unacknowledged experiences of those who arrive seeking new beginnings. This unique approach, combining portraiture with urban detritus, offers a powerful meditation on memory, loss, and the enduring human spirit. The exhibition opens Thursday, April 30th, from 5-8 pm and runs through May 23rd at The Painting Center.