Curated by Fountain House Studio Director Karen Gormandy and Fountain House Gallery Director Rachel Weisman, “Compulsive Genius…” presents a wonderfully diverse selection of over 90 works by 12 artists created during their Long Island City studio residencies.
The intriguing image featured above was fashioned by the ever-inventive NYC-based Puerto Rican artist Alyson Vega. Titled “Tag City,” this mixed media work is described by the artist as her homage to NYC’s graffiti. A small selection of images captured on our recent visit to Fountain House Gallery follow:
Queens-based multidisciplinary artist Susan Spangenberg, “Girl In Restraints Asylum Doll (Average Gals),“ 2021, Unstretched canvas, marker, metal, fabric (hand-sewn) with polyester stuffing and pencil armature
Colombia-born painter and costume designer Guiomar Giraldo-Baron, “Black Tree,” 2019, Acrylic on paper
Queens-based multidisciplinary artist Bradford Scott Stringfield, “Distance,” 2025, Acrylic on canvas
Multidisciplinary artist Boo Lynn Walsh, “Midnight Monoprint (#6),” 2017, Japanese ink, metallic filings, acrylic paint, and various mediums
Self-taught artist Maxx Reith, “People in the Window,” 2025, Acrylic on canvas
Romanian-born multidisciplinary artist Ella Veres aka vermillon, Mixed media installation featuring fiber art, dyed vintage handmade lace, ribbons, twine lace, repurposed objects and drawings fashioned with acrylic markers
And this Friday, June 6, a Virtual Artist Talk will take place with Maxx Reith, Susan Spangenberg and Alyson Vega. Check here for further information about this event, and here for information about Virtual Artist Talk II featuring Angela Rogers and Tom Schneider, who are also featured in “Compulsive Genius…”
“Compulsive Genius…” can be viewed at 702 Ninth Avenue at 48th Street in Manhattan: Tuesday 12 – 6 p.m., Wednesday 12 – 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday 12 – 6 p.m. and Saturday 1 – 7 p.m.
Note: Fountain House Gallery and Studio provides an environment where artists living with mental illness can express their creative visions, exhibit their work, and challenge the stigma that surrounds mental illness.
Photos of artworks: Lois Stavsky