Thresholds is the second exhibition presented by the Realist Art League, following the success of its inaugural group show Real Friends in spring 2025. That exhibition brought together over two dozen painters and drew strong attendance, affirming both the appetite for contemporary realism and the role of the League in providing a platform for it. With Thresholds, Realist Art League builds on that momentum, expanding from a community-based invitational to a juried show that brings new voices into the fold.
On view October 24 through November 24, 2025, Thresholds explores moments of passage where boundaries blur between presence and absence, light and dark, beginning and ending. The exhibition gathers some of the finest representational realist painters in the region, presenting work grounded in direct observation, technical mastery, and personal vision. The opening reception held on October 24th will be open to the public - any guest interested in viewing the works afterwards can contact the studio for booking at studio@realistartleague.com.
Portraiture, figuration, allegory, and still life all find a place in the show. Some artists approach the theme with restraint, others with intensity, but together they reveal the breadth of contemporary realism while exploring what it means to stand at a threshold. All works will be available for sale, making the exhibition a strong opportunity for collectors to engage with both emerging artists and established masters of the realist tradition.
The exhibition takes place at the historic Globe Dye Works in Philadelphia’s Frankford neighborhood. A repurposed 19th-century textile factory, Globe Dye Works provides a striking setting with its exposed brick, steel beams, and layered history. At once industrial and alive, the venue embodies the themes of passage, transition, and renewal that animate Thresholds.
