Oracle and Arcana: Artist talk with Patrick McGrath Muniz and Li Sumpter

PHLAFF is excited to be a co-presenter for a discussion with Patrick McGrath Muñiz and Li Sumpter this Thursday, October 5th.

The conversation will explore their use of allegory and iconography in their artwork. The discussion will be moderated by PHLAFF’s Youth Salon Coordinator, Daniel de Jesús. You can view the virtual event here.

Patrick McGrath Muñiz, an artist based in Texas, uses his paintings and retablos to depict figures and icons from tarot, Spanish colonial iconography, and pop culture. His artwork reflects his experiences living in a world affected by digital communication and information, climate change, social inequality, and the global pandemic. Through his use of allegory, he encourages viewers to delve into the roots of our colonial past and gain a deeper understanding of how it influences our present and future. You can view his exhibition, Arcanas Neocolonial Retablos Inspired after Tarot, at Taller until October 21.

Dr. Li Sumpter is a multidisciplinary artist and independent scholar based in Philadelphia. She uses world-building and mythic design techniques to create more resilient communities for the future. Her collaborative design initiatives and creative research focus on the art of survival and sustainability through diverse ecologies and immersive stories of change. Sumpter is an eco-arts activist and cultural producer, working with MythMedia Studios, the Escape Artist Initiative, and various arts and community organizations in Philadelphia and across the nation.