In Every Flower the Face of God - Closing Reception & Zine Release

The Philosophical Research Society in Los Angeles is a nonprofit cultural and educational organization which presents concerts, film screenings, lectures, performance art and theatre events, gallery exhibits and more on the intersection between the creative arts and mythology, mysticism and metaphysics.

The Philosophical Research Society

Join us for the closing reception of In Every Flower The Face Of God, an exhibition of new mixed media work by Brian Merriam

Philosophical Research Society

CLOSING RECEPTION &amp; ZINE RELEASEIn Every Flower the Face of God an exhibition of new mixed media work by Brian MerriamHansell Gallery at The Philosophical Research SocietyON VIEW March 12 - April 25, 2026 Inhered within all sacred objects is a seed of the eternal, a transcendent embryo that blossoms into embodied symbol. As these metaphysical kernels take on three-dimensionality, via structure and image, they become subject to the truths and paradoxes of temporal existence. Symbol as such is carried via geometry, element, planet, deity. Shape alone may convey the sacred, as can a dynamic relationship, unfixed and definable only as a system. Although esoteric in nature, these symbols are not ambiguous in their intensity or familiarity: we recognize them as emissaries from deeper orders of reality and as satellites of our own soul. The sacred object thus belongs to both time and timelessness, bound to the laws of the universe within which it is contained, as well as to the principles that govern the numinous realm wherefrom it was seeded. In this way, symbol is a material substance all its own, just as materiality itself is symbolic.In his solo exhibition, In Every Flower the Face of God, artist Brian Merriam generates his own semiotics, building sets of resonances and relationships that organize into symbol via image and objecthood. Through explorations in mixed media, with photography at the core, Merriam creates pieces that feel like venerated artifacts from alternate timelines. Number and correspondence cohere into a language of magnitude and mystery. Opposing forces create integrative binaries: gold and silver, sun and moon, harmony and disorder. Pairs, triplets and tetrads expand the play between scales of physicality. Spider webs converse with the structure of the milky way, spiraled geoglyphs with cymatics conjured in mercury. Patterns formed in ethereal mediums challenge the solidity of stones marked with impressed handprints, reminiscent of those left by bodhisattvas.In this collection, Merriam not only uses number and relationship to build his symbolic lexicon, but also time, texture, color and light. Earthen hued paper, collected from the artist’s travels in Nepal, is stacked upon itself, creating geological strata of texture and depth. Cloudlike wood compositions, cut from dynamic hand-drawn shapes, are saturated with saffron, worked and reworked in a dance of wear and abrasion. The presence of gold blurs the line between halo and shadow. Images, created and destabilized, are honored by concentrated light and negative space. Physical terrains are birthed from processes of reduction and accretion, as the photograph is liberated from its convention as a two-dimensional entity. Shapes and content are hollowed and layered, creating typographies and wormholes, tying the third-dimension to the fourth. The end result is a constellation of charged holy relics, pulled from the walls of monasteries found in other dimensions.Some of the images used throughout the exhibition have been featured in the artist’s previous work, including his 2024 book The Absolute Recedes. These images will certainly evolve further as he continues to construct his own visual mythos. Merriam’s work exists at the juncture between time and eternity, in deep relation with the foundational structures of reality. The symbolic becomes concretized as sacred object in much the same way that holy syllables, when organized, become a mantra. At the heart of this collection is an Upanishadic understanding that within every individual instance of boundaried reality, there exists both the pull towards three-dimensional embodiment and the seed of total transcendence.Brian Merriam (b.1982) is an artist and musician living in Los Angeles, CA. His work in photography and mixed media focuses on the symbolic aspects of the natural world and their interplay, reflection and correlation across all scales. He was selected as a contributing artist by the Philosophical Research Society in 2025. Ticket price: Free with RSVPPlease email contact@prs.org or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions. Gallery hours are TUES-FRI 12-6, SAT 1-6 and by appointment.

CONTENT DISCLAIMERThe views, opinions, and thoughts expressed within exhibited works are solely those of their creators and may not represent those of the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), its affiliates, or any individuals associated with PRS. Screenings are intended for educational and entertainment purposes. ACCESSIBILITYPRS wants all guests to be able to enjoy our events safely and comfortably. If you require any accessibility accommodation, please reach out to events@prs.org before showtime and we will be happy to assist you. REFUND POLICIESAll sales are final. There are no refunds for PRS events , except in the event of a medical emergency, including but not limited to a positive COVID-19 test. Ticket exchanges may be granted on a case by case basis, pending circumstances.In the event that PRS is forced to cancel an event entirely, tickets will be refunded or vouchers offered for a rescheduled event. PARKINGWe encourage attendees to consider carpooling, walking or biking to events if possible, and please be considerate of our Los Feliz neighbors when parking. Nearby street parking is available, as well as limited parking onsite at PRS in the front lot (entry from Los Feliz Blvd. when heading east). PRS EVENT POLICIES<ul><li>We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.</li><li>Events are subject to change without notice, including guest speakers and/or performers.</li><li>We encourage you to arrive at least 30 min. before the scheduled event start time to find parking, enjoy the Bookstore and take your seats.</li><li>Please turn off all mobile devices before the show. Talking and texting are not allowed during the events.</li><li>No filming, audio recording or mobile phone recording of events, screenings, concerts or other programs by audience members is allowed without permission.</li><li>There is no smoking permitted on PRS grounds.</li><li>We strongly encourage guests to wear masks to PRS events to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.</li><li>PRS allows Service Animals into the facility under ADA and state guidelines. For further details please visit www.ADA.gov. No animals permitted whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support, under ADA guidelines and CA Health Code.</li><li>Please do not bring outside food or drink into PRS events.</li><li>Weapons are strictly prohibited at PRS events.</li></ul>

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In Every Flower the Face of God - Closing Reception & Zine Release

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In Every Flower the Face of God - Closing Reception & Zine Release

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