In Response – A Solo Exhibition by Virginia Townsend

Overview

In Response is a solo exhibition by Minnesota-based artist Virginia Townsend, presented at the Art for All Gallery in Minneapolis from May 1 through July 5th, 2025. Each work of In Response reflects the personal story of someone* who has experienced inpatient psychiatric care. Through interviews and visual storytelling, Townsend offers a compassionate and unflinching look at life within the mental health system—capturing both its hardships and moments of resilience.

Whether abstract or figurative, her work resonates deeply with those seeking art that holds space for vulnerability, introspection, and emotional truth.

Exhibition Concept

In Response emerged from a yearlong project supported by the Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Individuals grant. At its core, the exhibition is built on conversations—deep, honest interviews with individuals who have experienced inpatient psychiatric care. Through those discussions, Townsend translated lived experiences into layered compositions that reflect the pain, isolation, resilience, and complexity of mental health treatment systems.

Each painting becomes a portal into a different narrative, allowing the viewer to sense, rather than simply observe, the emotional and structural realities of psychiatric hospitalization. Townsend’s approach balances abstraction and intentional symbolism, honoring her collaborators’ voices while maintaining a personal artistic vocabulary.

The work does not attempt to simplify or solve. Instead, it holds complexity with reverence—inviting viewers to question, empathize, and bear witness to stories often excluded from public discourse.

* Names in this project have been changed to protect the privacy and identity of the individuals interviewed

Exhibition Details

  • Exhibition Title: In Response
  • Artist: Virginia Townsend
  • On View: May 1 – July 5, 2025
  • Gallery: Art for All, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414
  • Gallery Info & Directions: art.ici.umn.edu/exhibits
  • Artist Talk: May 14, 2025 – Join via Zoom