A pop-up exhibit is open to the public for a short time at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art.
Until the end of the month, Gavin Benjamin’s “Gilded Glamour” will be on display for free at the museum in Greensburg.
Visitors will find a collection of three of Benjamin’s portrait series; some which are adorned with flowers and others that are bedazzled.
The first series, “Heads of State,” showcases portraits reminiscent of celebrities and figures of power; each with missing or distorted facial features.
The other series, “Miss a Thing,” and “Night Fever,” are more similar to each other than they are to “Heads of State.” They both depict portraits of individuals with heads and torsos made of floral elements.
“These are created as mixed media pieces,” said Claire Ertl, the museum’s director of marketing and public relations. She pointed out the incorporation of 3D techniques in the art, most notably including pearls and gems that pop out from the canvas.
She said the works are on loan from ZYNKA Gallery and Nemacolin Resort.
The museum owns three of Benjamin’s photographs from a 2021 series titled “Museum Pictures.”
The “Gilded Glamour” exhibit will be closed May 28 and 29 for the museum’s annual gala, which will be held in the exhibit’s space. The artist, who was born in Guyana, South America, grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and lived in the Pittsburgh region for a time, will be present for the May 29 gala. One of his works will be featured in a raffle for guests.
“Gilded Glamour” leaves the museum after May 31.