Geographies of Freedom: The Art of Jim Bloom

Jim Bloom constructs intricate worlds where Philadelphia anchors his vision, merging with imagined landscapes that balance liberation and uncertainty. His fictional geographies--fragmented and evocative--are spaces where reality shifts and familiar boundaries fade, capturing experiences that are as hopeful as they are unsettling. Bloom infuses his work with poignant vulnerability, transforming personal struggles into rich and moving compositions. His art captivates with its textured surfaces, raw energy, and striking colors, evoking a blend of chaos and ambiguity. Spanning the deeply personal and broadly critical, these works reveal how the interplay of reality and imagination shapes our understanding of freedom, identity, resilience, connection, and the human condition.  The primary lender to the show is The Keen Collection at Bethany Mission, which has been a long-standing champion of the artist. The exhibition also showcases Bloom's (Untitled) Scene from Gay Club (date unknown), in Woodmere's collection, and is guest-curated by Pavel Golubev (PhD).

About Pavel Golubev (PhD)

Guest Curator Pavel Golubev (PhD) arrived in Philadelphia in 2022 as a visiting research scholar at the Department of the History of Art of the University of Pennsylvania. His primary research focuses on queer artists from Eastern Europe and Central Asia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At Woodmere, he first undertook a research project regarding the artists Thomas Hovenden and Helen Corson, exploring themes of social justice and cultural narratives. His experience working with outsider artists and queer perspectives in historic and contemporary art makes him the ideal guest curator for Woodmere's show on Jim Bloom. Golubev previously worked as a curator and later as Deputy Director for Exhibitions at the Odesa National Fine Arts Museum. He is currently based in Berlin and recently joined the University of Potsdam as a postdoctoral researcher.