Issy Wilson: "Boundary Layer" Solo Exhibition in Chicago

Work by London-based emerging artist Issy Wilson (BFA ​’20) is featured in Boundary Layer, a new exhibition on view at Chicago’s PAGODA RED from April 10-May 15, 2026. 

A series of multi-media paintings by London-based artist Issy Wilson, Boundary Layer explores the liminal space between earth and air, an overlooked micro-ecosystem where moss cultivates its own conditions for survival. 

A pioneer species that can shape its surroundings, moss challenges the idea of borders as impenetrable and attests to the impact of quiet perseverance. Dwelling in the boundary layer, mosses are living tapestries with porous and continually renegotiated borders.

In a moment when political and social systems increasingly seek to solidify borders and regulate movement, moss suggests an alternative — one rooted in permeability, mutual support, and resilience.

Each Boundary Layer work is inspired by London in winter, where mosses emerge as vivid interruptions to misty tones of gray and brown. Dotting the urban landscape like small, forested worlds, the moss bejewels its stark surroundings with moments of color and softness. Even in conditions of constraint, moss continues to thrive, reshape its surroundings, and create new possibilities for growth.

Wilson’s paintings symbolize resilience without spectacle, adaptability without erasure, and resistance without domination. Her quiet landscapes remind us that transformation is possible, even when it occurs slowly and in overlooked spaces.

Issy Wilson: Boundary Layer
Exhibition Dates: April 10-May 15, 2026
Opening: Friday, April 10, from 6 – 10 p.m. (RSVP Required)
PAGODA RED, 1740 West Webster Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614