BENTONVILLE, AR – Midnight Gallery is proud to present Pepper Perpetual, a solo exhibition by artist Lily Hollinden, on view from April 3 to April 27, 2025. Known for her sharp wit and striking visual narratives, Hollinden invites viewers into a world where humor and absurdity collide with the deeply human.   

 

Featuring a mix of new and recent works, Pepper Perpetual explores our tangled relationship with nature, identity, and the nonsensical rituals of everyday life. At the heart of the exhibition is Pepper Plinkett, a clownish alter-ego who guides viewers through Hollinden’s playful yet biting observations of modern existence. With bold colors, unexpected juxtapositions, and a touch of the grotesque, her paintings champion comic relief in the face of adversity.    

 

A striking centerpiece in the exhibition, Fool’s Errand, features a chaotic battle seen where you can sense the urgent rallying cry from Pepper Plinkett. In the depths of the dark, fiery violence emerges the feebleness of the ammunition: nerf-bullets and suction cup arrows. Hollinden has a profound ability to ground intense situations while being both inconspicuous and unapologetically exposed.  

 

Join us for the opening reception on Friday, April 4, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, where guests can immerse themselves in Hollinden’s whimsical yet thought-provoking universe.   

 

About the Artist: Lily Hollinden is a practicing visual artist whose work embodies the theatricality of everyday life. Primarily a painter, but often working with ceramics as well, Hollinden obtained her B.F.A. from Indiana University in 2019 and recently graduated with her M.F.A. from the University of Arkansas. Her work has been exhibited nationally, and she has participated in group exhibitions at venues such as Crystal Bridges, the Walton Arts Center, and MIXD Gallery, and was awarded a residency at the Vermont Studio Center in 2024. 

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Written and curated by Emma Nilsson