In his multimedia work, Mark Thomas Gibson examines complex narratives surrounding identity, power, and cultural representation through a distinctive visual language that challenges conventional perspectives on US history and current events. Overture, on view at The Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College in Philadelphia through April 6, captures the unsettling urgency of a shifting political landscape within the environment of an immersive hand-drawn animated film, recent additions to Gibson’s Town Crier series, and large-scale paintings, evoking emotions and responsibilities both individual and collective.
A self-described American history painter, Gibson draws from a dynamic blend of influences — from the storytelling of Kerry James Marshall and the subversion of Philip Guston to the satirical edge of pioneering political cartoonists Thomas Nast and John Singleton Copley — fusing elements of graphic novel illustration, Surrealism, and Symbolism. The result is a visually striking body of work that aims to challenge viewers to probe beyond the surface to grapple with the layered complexities of power and protest in the United States.
The exhibition opens with a selection from Gibson’s Town Crier series, an archive of collages that feature a fictional character who recounts current events happening on the national and global political stage. Inside the Berman Museum’s main gallery, visitors will encounter an immersive, multi-sensory experience featuring five large-scale paintings and Gibson’s first hand-drawn animated film, accompanied by an original score.
Overture not only showcases Gibson’s striking aesthetic and technical skill across mediums, but also highlights his commitment to amplifying discussions on historical memory, collective trauma, and the ongoing pursuit of justice and equality. The exhibition’s visual, sonic, and kinetic choreography serves as a provocation to look, feel, think, and act, hoping to inspire us to consider our role in shaping a better, fairer, more inclusive society.
Gibson’s ability to weave thought-provoking storytelling into visually compelling compositions opens new perspectives on narratives of both American art and US history, encouraging viewers to reflect on their responsibility as citizens in a democracy’s unfinished work of fulfilling its founding ideals for all.
A supporting publication will accompany the show, examining the critical themes in Gibson’s work, including his interest in caricature and cartoon, his influences, and the Town Crier series.
For more information, visit ursinus.edu/berman.
This exhibition is made possible by the Terra Foundation for American Art.
