Painter Georgia Hupfel, 25, made her headlining debut at a New York City gallery with a collection of mixed-media paintings inspired by a cross-country road trip. The show also featured a series of nighttime photographs by her father, Mott Hupfel, whose work complemented her exploration of memory, landscape, and light.
The exhibit was held at John Molloy Gallery, known for showcasing Native American and Southwestern antiquities, a fitting setting for Hupfel’s paintings, many of which depict scenes from the American Southwest. Hupfel described how she and gallery owner John Molloy, whose daughter Anna worked as curator, saw a natural synergy between Georgia’s paintings and Mott’s photography.
“He really liked this series that was very focused on the Southwest,” Hupfel said. “He thought my dad’s photos kind of fell into a similar vein of this desert vibe.”
Hupfel’s journey into painting was not a straightforward one. She first focused on sculpture while studying art at Vassar College. It wasn’t until her senior year—when she was required to take a painting class—that she rediscovered her love for the medium.
“I did a pre-college summer program where I did eight hours of figure-painting a day, and I absolutely hated it. I swore I would never paint again,” she said. “In my last semester of senior year my teachers were like ‘Georgia, you can’t take another sculpture class, you have to do something else.’ So I decided I’d give painting another go, and I just totally fell in love with it and have been painting ever since.”
Her artistic process is rooted in a desire to create something tangible. In addition to her painting she still sculpts, in addition to taking photographs and embroidery.
“I’m someone who kind has to be busy. I’m not really good at just sitting around,” she said. “I really like the idea of making something that feels kind of permanent.”
Much of the work featured in the show was inspired by a road trip Hupfel took last year. Throughout her travels, she documented landscapes on film, later using those images as references for her paintings. The series reflects her interest in translating fleeting moments into lasting works of art.
Mott’s photography, meanwhile, explored a different kind of impermanence—capturing nighttime scenes from around the world, illuminated by a single light source. His images added a quiet, almost cinematic contrast to Georgia’s vibrant, texture-rich pieces.
“It was really fun,” Mott said of showing his work alongside his daughter’s. “We didn’t prepare together, but there was a similar vibe. A lot of my photos were taken at night, with only one light source, which tied into her focus on light and memory.”
Georgia, who has had her art featured in previous galleries but never as the headliner, described the experience was both nerve-wracking and exciting.
“This was kind of different than what I’ve done before, and I liked the mixed-media element of it,” she said. “I was so excited to share my work with people outside of my studio or Instagram.”
Those interested in purchasing Hupfel’s work can contact her directly via email at georgiahupfel@gmail.com for inquiries.
