Mirus Gallery Denver is thrilled to announce the opening of Telos, a solo exhibition by celebrated artist Crystal Wagner. Enter the world of Telos, hand assembled paper sculpted into complex ecosystems encapsulated in plexi domes. Wagner’s sculptural creations mimic organic forms found in nature. Join us for the opening reception Saturday, January 25, 2024, from 6-10 PM. The opening reception will feature a special live collaboration performed by Crystal Wagner and critically acclaimed composer David K. Israel scheduled to start at 8pm. Telos exhibition will be on display through April 11, 2025.
About the Exhibition:
In Telos, artist Crystal Wagner explores the dialogue between the organic and the sublime. Her vibrant, multi-layered sculptures—rooted in the deep ecological language of the natural world, transcend the familiar, gesturing toward speculative ecosystems that exist at the threshold of the real and the imagined. The domes serve as protective atmospheres and portals into her exploration of Telos, the ancient Greek concept of purpose or ultimate end, preserving each piece at a unique, imagined moment in its life cycle.
Wagner’s practice offers a counterpoint to the flatness of contemporary digital experience. Through her meticulously hand-crafted dimensional forms, she reclaims spatiality and tactility, creating microcosms that embody the delicate tension of natural growth. Telos becomes a meditation on the liminal- spaces where the boundaries between the known and the unknown disappear, prompting viewers to reimagine their relationship with organic forms in their modern landscapes.
About the Artist:
Crystal Wagner’s work has been described as a vibrant exploration of color, texture, and form, often noted for its unique interplay between the natural and synthetic. Critics highlight her ability to create “otherworldly” installations that merge with the environment, creating a “visual language” that feels both familiar and alien. In an interview about her exhibit Bioforms and Blooms, Wagner explained that her pieces delve into the relationship between humans and nature, using exotic, biomorphic shapes to evoke a primal connection with the organic world.
Wagner’s art has garnered widespread media attention, with features in The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Artnet, Hi-Fructose, Juxtapoz, Complex Art & Design, Beautiful Decay, and Drawing magazines, among many others. She has been awarded notable grants including Pollock-Krasner Grant, Adolph Ester Gottlieb Grant, and the Art Affect Grant and was the Sculpture and Installation Category Award Winner of the SEE.ME, Art Takes Paris, international art competition. Select magazine features include a 13-page article in Juxtapoz (2015), a 10-page article in Hi Fructose (2016), and 10-page article in Graffiti Art, and features in Dream Magazine, Frame Magazine (Amsterdam, 2017), and Drawing Magazine. Wagner’s work has been exhibited globally, with collaborations including high-profile projects for Nike and Viacom, among others, solidifying her influence and reputation in contemporary art.
