08/31/2026
Inside the studio with Celia Reisman:
Ahead of her upcoming solo exhibition, Street Views, we visited Reisman in her studio, where paintings in progress share space with gouache drawings and source material.
Reisman begins with places encountered firsthand, often stopping when an unexpected color, quality of light, architectural detail, or other “quirky something” catches her attention. From there, shapes shift, buildings move, plants are rearranged, and color and perspective change as the paintings develop.
“I control the process in the beginning, then instinct adds more color and detail to describe place.” - Celia Reisman
That balance between observation and invention runs throughout Street Views. As Reisman describes it, “If I took you to the locations, you would see all the elements but with a twist: scale change, perspective distortion, rearrangement of light and shadow, and everything recomposed.”
And even within that process, Reisman leaves room for surprise: “My tendency is to add, which can disrupt, but I like adding something that feels out of context.”
Reisman lives and works between Merion, Pennsylvania and Strafford, Vermont. She received her BFA from Carnegie Mellon University and MFA from Yale University, and has exhibited widely throughout the United States. Her work has been recognized with a Purchase Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and a Survey Exhibition at the Michener Art Museum.
Celia Reisman: Street Views
September 18 – October 17, 2026
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 19, 1–4 PM
To learn more, visit grossmccleaf.com or contact the gallery at [email protected].
Celia Reisman Gross McCleaf Gallery
