CHANDLER, Ariz. – “So Fun! An Exploration of Maximalism” will be on display at the Vision Gallery Aug. 23 through Nov. 2, 2025. Through plush emoji bean bags, a plethora of flowers and plenty of Perler beads, the five artists in this exhibition utilize a wide range of media to create sculptures, drawings, paintings and site-specific installations that celebrate the aesthetic of excess.
Born out of a rebellion against the Minimalist art movement, contemporary Maximalism counters the prejudice of high culture. From Yayoi Kusama’s polka dots to Kehinde Wiley’s portraits, this complex mode of creation has been used by artists and creatives over the decades to express themselves and transform the historical understanding of maximalist craft. Through the use of color, pattern and repetition, “So Fun!” creates an environment rich in storytelling, self-expression and empowerment that embodies the joyful spirit of Maximalism.
Hanley Ange, City of Chandler’s visual arts specialist and exhibition curator, says, “The artists in ‘So Fun!’ were selected for their boundless creativity, fearless risk-taking, openness to sharing their inner worlds and rebellious spark. Together, their work creates a rich environment that radiates radical acceptance and empowerment.”
About the exhibition, Tucson-based artist Lex Gjurasic states, “For me as an artist, the visual cacophony of Maximalism is more important now than ever. It is brutally emotional, filled with symbolic mysteries to be decoded and a reflection of the rebellious, joyful chaos of this moment in human history."
Join the Vision Gallery for the following public programs related to the exhibition:
- Opening Reception
- Friday, Aug. 22, 6-8 p.m.
- RSVP on Eventbrite
- “So Fun!” Day
- Saturday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- RSVP on Eventbrite
Vision Gallery is located at 10 E. Chicago St. Hours are Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Closed Monday and Sunday. Free admission.
Find more information on exhibitions at Vision Gallery or call 480-782-2695.
Vision Gallery and Chandler Center for the Arts Gallery
The Vision Gallery, and its sister gallery at the Chandler Center for the Arts, are fine arts galleries exhibiting more than 300 regional artists and housing for two Art-O-Mats in Chandler. Visitors can discover a varied palette of original artworks from oil and acrylic canvasses to ceramic works, sculpture, jewelry and more. Exhibits are rotated on a regular basis and are free for the public to view at this nonprofit gallery supported by the Chandler Cultural Foundation. A portion of all art sales are used to fund the Vision Kids program, a series of education workshops offered to the community free of charge. Both galleries are regularly featured in articles and other media at the local and state level. More at Vision Gallery.
About Lex Gjurasic
Lex Gjurasic is a visual artist from the rain-soaked Pacific Northwest currently living in Tucson, Ariz. She has exhibited her work nationally for over 30 years. Recently she has delved into public art completing a mural with the City of Tucson’s Downtown Mural Project as well as a temporary immersive exhibition at the Scottsdale Public Library with Scottsdale Public Art. Since 2023 she has been a recipient of a Research and Development grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts, a start grant from the arts foundation of Tucson and southern Arizona and a night bloom grant from MOCA Tucson and the Andy Warhol foundation for the visual arts.
About Sarah Hurwitz
Sarah Hurwitz is an artist, illustrator, graphic designer and public artist based in Phoenix, Ariz. She received her B.F.A. in Painting and Ceramics from the University of Colorado at Boulder and her M.F.A. in 2-D Design from the University of Arizona.
About Sofie Ramos
Sofie Ramos is an artist currently living and working in Los Angeles, Calif. She is best known for her vibrant, large-scale installations and her abstraction of found objects by covering them in colorful latex paint. She received her B.A. with Honors in Visual Art from Brown University and her M.F.A in Art Practice from the University of California, Berkeley.
About Emily Spetrino
Emily Spetrino is a visual artist based in Phoenix, Ariz. She previously served as the curator at The Trunk Space, a non-profit venue in Phoenix that hosts visual art, performance and music events. Emily’s artwork is known for its use of found objects, intricate beading and site-specific installations that are rich in color and pattern.
About Chloe Torri
Chloe Torri is an interdisciplinary queer artist living in Western Massachusetts, and a recipient of a M.F.A from the School of Art and Design at Arizona State University in 2020. Her vibrant work explores femininity, queerness, friendship, memory, resilience, magic and hope. Torri's work often uses the nostalgia of Millennial Americana, the dotcom boom and the general campy, funhouse aesthetic of her generation. Through color and texture, she celebrates love, whimsy and the magic in everyday moments.
Media contact:
Hanley Ange
Visual Arts Specialist
480-782-2697