Judith Rae Solomon Gallery at YSU presents 'Wrinkles in the Smile of Divinity' by Davon Brantley

The Judith Rae Solomon Gallery in Bliss Hall at Youngstown State University announces "Wrinkles in the Smile of Divinity," a solo exhibition by artist Davon Brantley. The exhibition will be on view Monday, Feb. 2, through Friday, Feb. 27, 2026.

Influenced by Dante's Divine Comedy, Brantley presents a trilogy of works that navigate the profound territories of Hell, Purgatory and Divinity as metaphors for the artist's personal journey. 

Through Rorschach-silhouetted substrates, non-conventional portraiture and dynamic blooming colors, the exhibition examines how toxic generational ideas about love and domesticity shape our lives, how we navigate the nonlinear beauty and dread of grief and how we reconcile traditional values with the contemporary realities of connection and family.

"This body of work explores perception and the implications of maintaining and obtaining 'image' or the lack thereof," Brantley states. "The exhibition asks vital questions: How do we perceive perfection or the Divine? What will one endure to achieve their divine purpose?"

The public is invited to attend an artist lecture 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3 in McDonough Lecture Hall, followed by an opening reception at approximately 6:30 p.m. in the Solomon Gallery.

This exhibition is presented in partnership with Africana Studies at Youngstown State University.

The gallery is free and open to the public. Parking is available in the Wick Avenue Deck (M30) for a $5 cash fee.

For more information, contact Katie Merrill, Cliffe College Coordinator of Community Engagement and Events, at 330.941.2307 or kamerrill@ysu.edu.