Reception for “Binding Ties” & Meet and Greet with Michelle Marcuse

Join us on Wednesday, July 19th, in celebration of Park Towne Place’s Artist In Residence, Michelle Marcuse!
During her 2023 artist residency at Park Towne Place, Philadelphia-based artist Michelle Marcuse created a new body of work, resulting in this exhibition, aptly titled Binding Ties. Originating from South Africa, Marcuse’s studio practice investigates the concept of our intricate relationship between identity, history, and our shared human experience amidst a “melting pot” of cultures. With an ever-curious exploration, Marcuse utilized wire, string, and raffia to create the included works. Binding Ties pushes the boundaries of her creative practice as she interweaves traditional craft techniques with her aesthetic sensibilities.
Each meticulously crafted composition serves as a conduit for unearthing the interconnectedness of our humanity. In an era defined by increasing divisions, Marcuse’s artistic journey reevaluates the importance of art in fostering empathy as she reflects on her own heritage and the power of art to transcend time and place.
About the Artist:
Michelle Marcuse (South Africa) holds a Bachelor of Design from the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design (Israel), a Bachelor of Fine Art from the Tyler School of Art (Philadelphia, PA, USA), and has additionally studied at The Michaelis School of Art, University of Cape Town (South Africa). Marcuse has exhibited widely including notable exhibitions with BLAM Projects (Brooklyn, NY), Arte y Amor, Taller Boricua (NYC), and Borderless Caribbean, The Haitian Cultural Arts Alliance (Miami, FL), and Against Gravity: TECTONICS, DORAL Contemporary Art Museum (Doral, FL). Marcuse is active locally, exhibiting at Grizzly Grizzly, List Gallery, the Philadelphia International Airport, Rowan University, and Park Towne Place.
Internationally, her work was included at the Art Life Foundation in Hong Kong and at the Restart Museum in Hangzhou, China. Marcuse had a CFEVA fellowship, she made it to the finalist position for the prestigious Joan Mitchell Foundation and received a nomination for The Pew Fellowship in the Arts. She was co-director of HOUSEGallery from 2010 – 2020. Her work can be found in public and private collections, including The Philadelphia Museum of Art. She currently works and resides in Fishtown, Philadelphia.