Starting March 28, the internationally renowned immersive art environment Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens at 1020-22 South St. presents Stone Soup: Works by Eustace Mamba, a new exhibition by multidisciplinary artist Eustace Mamba.
Curated by PMG’s Exhibitions Manager Chelsey Luster, the collection highlights Mamba’s innovative use of materials and concepts to spark critical conversations about the cultural richness and resilience of black communities, while expanding the role of contemporary art in driving social change.
As an artist, Mamba’s practice delves into the complexities of identity, culture and history, with a particular focus on the black experience in America. His work often merges visual elements that contrast historical figures and events from black history with imagery of contemporary black life, particularly as it unfolds in east coast cities like Philadelphia and New York. This blending of past and present creates a narrative space where viewers are invited to reflect on the complexities of race and identity across time.
The artist’s multidisciplinary approach incorporates painting, collage, street photography and mixed media installations, with an emphasis on sewing as a storytelling tool. This technique allows Mamba to transform materials into vibrant, layered compositions that reflect both personal and collective struggles as well as moments of harmony.
In Stone Soup, many of the works illustrate his mixed-media practice of blending painting with collage and sewing to create eye-catching art filled with color and texture. Mamba’s piece The Tailor is centered on a figure toiling away at their sewing machine, their back turned to a distant window as they feverishly stitch together masks. Several works demonstrate the artist’s rich portrait work, including Heatwave, Paradise – Incomplete and Wild Eyes. Each uses his imaginative collaging techniques, oils and paints to create mixed media collages of his human subjects, each bearing simple expressions that nonetheless draw the viewer in.
The exhibition also features paintings of various tableaus centered around urban environments. Night Owl shows a figure on a street corner looking off in the distance while the local SEPTA bus passes by. Little Yellow House, Dreams of Flight and Little Yellow Bando show multicolored row houses and cityscapes that capture the vibrancy of the city. Together, the works featured in Stone Soup construct narratives that blend observation with invention, portraying both personal and collective experiences.
Born in New York City, Mamba received a Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts degrees at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. The institution was instrumental in shaping his artistic vision, grounding his work in a profound exploration of recognition, representation and belonging for black people in America — issues that remain deeply relevant in both historical and contemporary contexts. Mamba’s artwork has garnered recognition in prestigious collections, including the Woodmere Art Museum, the Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art and the Academy of the Fine Arts.
Magic Gardens is open year-round Wednesday to Monday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission ranges from $8 to $15, with discounts available to select groups. Access to exhibitions displayed in PMG’s galleries is free with admission.
