This spring, Crystal Marshall an Atlanta based painter, will present her solo show Post Pandemia: A Transformation, which will debut at The Supermarket in Atlanta, Georgia. The exhibition promises an immersive dive into her neo-surrealist and Afrofuturistic worlds, blending both science and spirituality in ways that provoke and inspire. At the heart of the show are works that push boundaries, merging astrophysics, quantum theory, and identity to create a sensory and visually tantalizing experience. All the works evoke smooth, interplanetary scenes and dreamlike lighting effects create an otherworldly atmosphere.

One of the show’s standout pieces, “Blackbody Summit I,” features a strikingly ethereal landscape where a lone figure stands atop a dark, celestial form. The glowing orbs in the background are reminiscent of cosmic dust or distant stars, hinting at Marshall’s fascination with cosmic origin and identity that surpasses physical boundaries. The contrast between this piece’s luminous and shadowed elements mirrors the dialogue between visibility and obscurity—an ongoing theme in her work. Her series also expresses the paralysis and fear experienced during the pandemic, creating works that inquire into a higher state of consciousness. For Marshall, Blackbody is an Afrofuturistic concept that liberates notions of blackness and states of freedom through quantum theory definitions. 

“Sky Break, Suspended in Fractured Milky Vault” takes a more organic, painterly approach, layering vibrant strokes of color that seem to pulse with energy. The use of oil on paper adds a tactile dimension to the work in contrast to the digital photography of “Blackbody Summit” series. In the painting, figures emerge and dissolve into a swirling composition as if existing across multiple dimensions. The work titled “Blackbody- Prayers from the Multitude”, suggests a spiritual undertone—prayers reverberating through time and space, an invocation of collective consciousness.

The series “Black Body Summit” not only delves deeper into aspects of galactic excursion, but spiritual parasitism intrinsically interlinked with the viral—interdimensional beings and the transformational. The show presents the perspective of looking back, contemplation and overcoming obstacles. Inspired by science fiction writer Marleen Barr, Marshall envisions a space where science and identity coalesce in ways that defy traditional artistic and societal expectations. Marshall produces pieces that transcend labels, offering a bold, unfiltered perspective on identity. Her art is not merely seen—it is experienced, a testament to her ability to merge the personal with the universal.

Post Pandemia: A Transformation is on view at The Supermarket until March 25^th, 2025.

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