June exhibition at ArtWRKD invites viewers into a world that is equal parts surrealist fantasy and visual poetry.
Updated Fri, Jun 6, 2025 at 4:19 pm ET
NEWTOWN, PA — ArtWRKD Exhibition Space in Newtown presents the solo exhibition debut of Paul Plumadore, an artist whose life and work have danced, quite literally, across disciplines and decades.
"Paper Trail" is on exhibit from now through June 29 at the ArtWRKD Exhibition Space at 128 South State Street in Newtown. A First Friday reception begins at 6 p.m. on June 6 with a special event on Saturday, June 29 at 1 p.m. featuring "An Unthinkable Afternoon," an immersive reading of Paul Plumadore's prose book.
Known for his intricate and whimsical paper montage art, Plumadore’s exhibition invites viewers into a world that is equal parts surrealist fantasy and visual poetry.
"When I entered Paul’s studio, I was transported into the curious display of rearranged imaging, creating fantastical stories of possibilities not yet seen. As if this was a historical account of a new species — half animal, half human — celebrating, gossiping, frolicking ... Just the pure joy and whimsical nature was both transportive and humorous, reminding us to not take ourselves too seriously, and that a moral is just around the corner," said Ashara Shapiro, curator and founder of ArtWRKD.
"Animal Kingdom" by Paul Plumadore.
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Since 1975, Plumadore has been meticulously cutting, rearranging, and composing images into richly detailed montages. Early recognition came swiftly; in 1976, Art Direction Magazine named him “Upcoming Illustrator,” and soon his distinctive works adorned book jackets, record covers, and editorial spreads for clients ranging from Dell Books and RCA Records to The New York Times and Psychology Today.
But Plumadore's creative journey began long before his collages appeared in print. At just seven years old, he discovered a passion for dance, which eventually led him to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he earned his BFA and became a founding member of The NYU Dance Ensemble. His early 20s saw him on the faculty of NYU and performing with the prestigious Paul Taylor Dance Company. He later served as head of the Dance Department at Sweet Briar College and choreographed original works under the name Paul Plumadore & Co.
In 2015, his visual art gained broader gallery recognition when he received a Solo Show Award at the Northeastern Biennial. That resulting solo exhibition at the AFA Gallery in Scranton marked a new chapter in his already storied career. He has since been featured in Art of the State at the State Museum of Pennsylvania and included in Making the Cut: The Best Collage Artists in the World.
"Anatomy Lesson" by Paul Plumadore.
His 2021 solo exhibition Paper Trail at the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance broke attendance records and affirmed what many in the art world have long known: Paul Plumadore’s collage art doesn’t just reflect a unique perspective — it constructs entirely new worlds.
Now, with his first solo show at ArtWRKD, Plumadore’s surreal storytelling takes center stage once again.
Visitors to the exhibition can expect a feast of visual delight — each collage a theatrical scenefrozen in time, populated by improbable characters that somehow feel eerily familiar. There’shumor, mystery, and a quiet intelligence to Plumadore’s work, revealing layers of culturalcommentary beneath the whimsy.
Paul Plumadore’s solo exhibition at ArtWRKD is a landmark moment in a career defined byreinvention, curiosity, and the endless dance between imagination and form.