Naked Ben Franklin

Through Dec. 4, free, Pterodactyl, 3237 Amber St., 215-501-7158, pterodactylphiladelphia.org.

by Eric Schuman

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Published: Nov 23, 2010

[ drawing/sculpture ]

I may never understand artists' preoccupation with nudity, but they all seem to love it. Ryan Mulligan, for example. His latest show is as odd as its title implies: Mulligan uses his drawings and sculptures to simultaneously depict and offer solutions to problems. Paintings spill off the canvas to occupy entire walls, and Mulligan's whimsically childlike style imbues confused innocence to depictions of weapons and sex toys. In addition to culling memories from his youth, Mulligan injects his versions of recognizable products and landmarks to cater to our pop culture-saturated society. Found objects such as Rubik's cubes and cereal boxes are also found scattered throughout Mulligan's prismatic space. Though not grotesque, the drawings of people evoke a forgotten corner of a major city. And yes, there is a topless drawing of Ben Franklin in there, but Mulligan mercifully stops before we find too much of the founding father.

Through Dec. 4, free, Pterodactyl, 3237 Amber St., 215-501-7158, pterodactylphiladelphia.org.

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