Wolverhampton Art Gallery is hosting Palingenesis, the first institutional solo exhibition by artist Rachel Magdeburg. The exhibition presents new paintings developed through observation and experimentation, tracing connections between natural forms and human-made objects.
How the exhibition began
A worm found in a packed lunch became the starting point for the body of work. Magdeburg followed a chain of visual connections inspired by the worm's form and movement, similar to how children make imaginative associations at play. Within the paintings, worms resemble fingers and rat tails, while rat fur recalls paintbrush hairs. Throughout the exhibition, these forms evolve and reappear in unexpected ways—some remain recognisable while others become gestural marks, abstractions and 3D forms in paint.
Themes and context
The exhibition reflects Magdeburg's interest in ecology and the Anthropocene—the idea that human activity has become a major force shaping the natural world. Plastic packaging, mobile phones and synthetic materials appear alongside worms, fossils and other non-human organisms. The work encourages audiences to consider how objects humans create and discard today could become what Magdeburg describes as the "technofossils" of the future.
Visit the gallery
Wolverhampton Art Gallery is free to visit Monday to Saturday from 10.30am to 4.30pm and Sunday from 11am to 4pm. For more information, visit Wolverhampton Arts and Culture.
