Pleiades Gallery (547 West 27th Street, Suite 304) will host A still colorful life – a solo exhibition featuring pieces of Mitchell Rodbell’s work from February 18 to March 15, 2025. This is Rodbell’s debut solo show, which will feature works in acrylic and watercolor, on both canvas and paper, featuring landscapes, still lifes and abstract paintings with an abundance of color. To kick off the month-long solo show, Rodbell will host a reception on Saturday, March 1, from 3 to 6 PM.

In this show, Rodbell explores the fluidity and the beauty that surrounds us in everyday life. He draws inspiration from oceans, sunsets, nature preserves, sky scenes, and blooms. As an artist, he is fascinated by the process of capturing images of these scenes and digitally manipulating their colors and shapes, and translating them into reimagined compositions in his art. His rich use of color and texture evokes the rhythm and the energy of the world in which we live. Working primarily in acrylic and watercolor, on both canvas and paper, Rodbell incorporates intense washes of paint, various mediums, blending techniques, spraying, scraping, and lively brushstrokes. His spontaneous process allows for many layers and renditions within each piece, underscoring the fluid journey of his work and his inspiration.

Reflecting on his debut solo exhibition, Mitchell Rodbell shared,“A still colorful life celebrates the beauty which is woven into our everyday lives, which often goes unnoticed. I believe that life can surpass our expectations when we embrace it with creativity alongside a commitment to growth and discovery – these are principles that guide my art. I am so often inspired by the power of color and its profound emotional resonance. Through this show, I’m excited to share my love for vibrant light, rich hues, and dynamic textures with my community and beyond.”

In concert with the inspiration from Rodbell’s personal life, he is also heavily influenced by impressionists and fauvists. As a young man, he spent countless hours in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, absorbing the greatness of Van Gogh, Monet, Matisse, and Cezanne, among many others. His own process in tandem with influence from these legendary artists is observable in many of his colorful paintings on display throughout A still colorful life.

Mitchell Rodbell is a born and raised New Yorker, having lived in Manhattan most of his life. Rodbell graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration in 1976. Later, he went on to a successful, 40-year career as a Designer and Creative Director, during which he fashioned women’s clothing, designed successful silhouettes and styles, and he crafted original prints and textiles for custom garments. His love of design and color became a springboard for his transition into creating his artwork. Rodbell is a member at the Art Students League of New York, The Long Beach Art League of New York, The Pleiades Gallery of Contemporary Art. In addition he has exhibited his work at New York’s The Edward Hopper House in Nyack and Guild Hall in East Hampton, as well as Connecticut’s Spectrum Gallery in Centrebrooke. He has won various awards and honors and has participated in over 10 shows across the tristate area.

Spanning fifty years, Pleiades Gallery is one of the oldest and most well-established galleries in New York City. Founded in Soho in 1974 by a group of like-minded artists, the gallery is located among the most prestigious galleries in Manhattan. Pleiades Gallery has developed into a Chelsea institution with high standards that are continuously refreshed by new artists representing a diversity of styles, ages and viewpoints and that are creating work across a broad range of mediums.