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

The image featured above, “Nazare,” was painted with oil on canvas by the Afro-Brazilian self-taught painter and textile artist Madalena Santos Reinbolt. What follows are several more artworks of landscapes and cityscapes fashioned by self-taught artists — seen in a range of settings from galleries to museums to art fairs.

Also by Madalena Santos Reinbolt, “Untitled,” Acrylic and wood on burlap

The late German-born self-taught artist Gustav Klumpp, “Dream Vision of Visible Souls,” 1974, Oil on canvas

Self-taught multidisciplinary artist David Syre, “Universe as Seen from Madeira,” 2024, Prisma crayon and gel pen on black paper

The late Canadian self-taught artist Matthew Wong, “Pastoral,” 2018. Watercolor on paper

The late Southern self-taught artist Reverend Howard Finster, “World of the Happy and Free,” 1986, Mixed media

Fountain House Gallery self-taught artist Roger Jones, “Love is Love,” 2021, Acrylic on stretched canvas

Photo credits: 1, 3, 5-7 Lois Stavsky; 2 Tara Murray & 4 Shalom Stavsky

Featuring an intriguing array of artworks — from the playful to the poignant — Threads of Resilience: A Mental Health Exhibition opened last Thursday at Culture Lab LIC. Curated by Dawn DeVito, it invites its viewers it to reflect on the nature of healing in our uncertain times. Featured above is “Silent Dust, Quiet Night,” a riveting oil painting by Fountain House Gallery self-taught artist and psychiatric nurse Nicolaus Myers. Several more images of artworks captured at its welcoming opening reception — with drinks, bite, and music by Rebecca McCartney and Mark McIntyre — follow:

Visual artist Lindsay Liang, “Draining,” 2025, Acrylic on canvas

NYC-based illustrator and art professor Eva Redamonti, “Headspace 4,” 2024, Graphite on paper

Queens-based Fountain House Gallery multidisciplinary artist Issa Ibrahim, “Rogues’ Gallery,” 1997, Latex and enamel on unstretched canvas; this painting was done while Issa was a patient at Creedmoor Hospital.

The acclaimed Brooklyn-based Korean artist Yun Jang, “An Exhausted Man,” 2022, Acrylic on canvas

Artist and educator Camille Butterfield, “Electrified,” 2017, Acrylic on canvas

Self-taught painter Kelly Nicole, “Forget Me Not,” 2024, Oil, acrylic and chalk on canvas

The exhibition remains on view through June 1, 2025 at Culture Lab LIC. Located at 5-25 46th Ave in Long Island City, it is open Thurs & Fri: 5-9PM and Sat & Sun: 2-9PM.

Photos of artworks: 1, 3, 6 & 7 Sara C Mozeson; 2, 4 & 5 Lois Stavsky

An artist-led digital photography residency for NYC youth, NYC Salt was established to “engage, inspire, and empower youth to reach their full potential and develop a sense of agency, belonging, and integrated identity through the lens of a camera.” Currently on view through June 6 at Clement Clarke Moore Park on 10th Avenue and 22nd Street in Chelsea is “The Moment It Clicks,” an outdoor gallery featuring a delightfully diverse range of works by dozens of NYC Salt participants, as the non-profit celebrates its 20th anniversary. Pictured above is Mamiwata by Malike Sidibe. Several more images we recently captured while visiting the site follow:

Christian Ogando, “Domino Sugar Factory“

Danny Martinez, “Throwing Fire”

Aldo Sorcia, “Monster”

Josue Loayza, “Moment”

Suquann Alexander, “Self Portrait”

To the right of Malike Sidibe: Rami Abouemira, Siara Ramos, Austin Canales and Merelyn Bucio

Wide view

You can view additional photographs on exhibit and buy prints of NYC Salt student photos here.

Photo credits: 1, 3 & 6 Lois Stavsky; 2, 4, 5, 7 & 8 Tara Murray

Showcasing an alluring array of artworks marked by scrupulously crafted details, Meticulous Markings invites its viewers to immerse in a richly imaginative alternative universe. “Bipolar Party,” the enticing image pictured above, was fashioned with mixed media on an unstretched canvas in 2024 by Brooklyn-based artist Michael Kronenberg. Several more images captured on a recent visit to the exhibition follow:

New Jersey-based, largely self-taught artist Nicolaus J. Myers, “Where Fear and Hope Converge,” 2023, Acrylic on burlap

Manhattan-based, largely self-taught artist Roger Jones, “Love to Go,” 2024, Acrylic, marker, and found objects on canvas

Queens-based self-taught multidisciplinary artist Susan Spangenberg, “Edgar Allan Poe (Asylum Doll),” 2025, Charcoal, acrylic on unstretched canvas (hand-sewn) with polyester stuffing

NYC-based fiber artist Alyson Vega, Deep Forest, 2019, Layered fabric and fiber, machine sewn

Also on view in Meticulous Markings are artworks by Kelly Han, Annie Poon and Karen Zechowy.

And click here for specific information re: these two upcoming Virtual Artist Talks:

Curated by Jennifer Lauren Gilbert, the director of the Jennifer Lauren Gallery in Manchester, UK, Meticulous Markings remains on view through April 30. Located at 702 Ninth Avenue at 48th Street in Manhattan, Fountain House Gallery is open 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.

The scintillating mixed media image pictured above, “29 Pink Brushes,” was fashioned by the self-taught Oregon-based artist Anne Marie Grgich. What follows are several more images of faces in a range of styles and media — created by self-taught artists — as seen in varied settings from galleries to art fairs:

Self-taught Norwegian painter Trude Viken, “Untitled,” Oil on canvas

Manhattan-based Fountain House Gallery self-taught artist Roger Jones

Self-taught Haitian artist Frantz Zephirin, “The 7th Dimension,” 2022, Acrylic on canvas

West Coast-based Niad Art Center artist Arstanda Billy White⁠, “Van Gogh Standing,” 2023⁠, Acrylic, pastel and marker on canvas⁠

The late French American self-taught artist Niki de Saint Phalle, “White Head,” Polyester and paint

Ontario-born, self-taught ceramic artist Susan Day, “The Game,” 2023, Glazed ceramic mirror

Photo credits: 1-3, 5-7 Lois Stavsky; 4 Tara Murray

Featured above in our ongoing series showcasing couples and duos is a drawing — fashioned in 2020 with colored pencil and graphite on paper — by the late West Coast-based Tierra del Sol self-taught artist Helen Rae. Several more images of couples — captured while visiting a range of spaces from studios to galleries and museums — follow:

Also by self-taught artist Helen Rae, “Untitled,” 2017, Colored pencil and graphite on paper

NYC-based neo expressionist artist Alejandro Caiazza, “Bosom Bodies,” 2024, Mixed media collage

Galerie Gugging Austrian self-taught artist Laila Bachtiar, “Mutti mit Cello,” 2016, pencil, colored pencils,

Largely self-taught Japanese artist Akito Nara, “Wedding Day“, 2018, Acrylic and oil pastel on canva

French self-taught artist Aïcha Khorchid, “Lucien et Angele,” Mixed media on wood panel

Photos of artworks by Lois Stavsky

Under the curatorial direction of artist Marine Marchand, Fountain House Gallery members were invited to submit artworks as a tribute to the medium of comic art. The result is “BIFF! BAM! POW!” — a delightfully diverse exhibition celebrating this often underrated graphic genre. The image featured above, “No Law 3,” is the work of self-taught artist Angela Rogers. Several more images of works showcased in this enticing group exhibition — that continues through February 19 — follow:

Self-taught artist Judith Berman, “Detective Dick Tracy,” 2024, Acrylic on canvas

Multidisciplinary artist Michael Kronenberg, “Yoiks,” 2024, Pen and ink, alcohol marker on paper

Multidisciplinary artist Issa Ibrahim, “Birth of Wonder Woman,” 2015, Oil on canvas

Self-taught fiber artist Alyson Vega, “Holy Mental Health Crisis Batman!,” 2024, Fabric and fabric markers

Multimedia artist Rene Santiago, “TMNT,” Mixed media on wood block

Brooklyn-based artist Muhammad Abdullah, “The Last Kiss – Jean into the Sun,” 2024, Acrylic on canvas

Located at 702 Ninth Avenue at 48th Street in Manhattan, Fountain House Gallery is open 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.

Photo credits: 1 & 3, Courtesy Fountain House Gallery; 2, 4-7, Lois Stavsky

Cofounded over 40 years ago by psychologist Dr. János Marton, a winner of the Dr. Guislain “Breaking the Chains of Stigma” Award for his “extraordinary efforts and distinctive ability to nurture creativity of individuals living with mental illness and for establishing a groundbreaking and flourishing artistic community within a mental health care setting,” The Living Museum is an oasis of unbridled creativity. Dozens of patients and former patients of Creedmoor Psychiatric Center work there regularly creating art in a wide range of media and styles.

On view through March 2 at Fierman on the Lower East Side is a delightful group exhibition of works by Living Museum artists. The untitled geometric image featured above was fashioned with ink on paper in 2019 by the wondrously inventive John Tursi. Several more images of artworks captured on our recent visit to Fierman follow:

Multidisciplinary artist Frank Boccio, “Untitled,” n.d., Mixed media on board

Trinidad native Nyla Isaac, “Untitled,” 2024, Acrylic on canvas

Rob Chin, “Eurythmics,” 2019, Acrylic on vinyl record

Paula Brooks, “Gathering Together,” 2020, Acrylic on canvas

Fierman is open Wednesday -Sunday 12-6pm and by appointment / david@fierman.nyc

Photos of artworks, Lois Stavsky