Over the past two years, we have all been forced to reevaluate our domestic surroundings as sources of encouragement, delight, and, curiosity that we once sought elsewhere.

Artists have always drawn inspiration from their homes. Sarah McEneaney and Lydia Ricci mine the objects and events that animate and populate their everyday lives to highlight the constant presence of exciting potential in seemingly ordinary circumstances.

Through her daily practice of meticulously painting images of her home and studio, and the happenings within those spaces, McEneaney examines the rich opportunities for reflection that abound around us. She, and her pets, inhabit a lushly colored and detailed haven where activities and events such as drinking water and a rainstorm unfold into poetic moments of meaning.

Ricci’s miniature objects, made from hoarded paper and cardboard, act as stand-ins for emotionally charged experiences and relationships. Their diminutive scale provides a safe distance for contemplation of the difficult situations or memories they contain.

Photo: Sarah McEneaney, Studio 2018, 2018; acrylic and collage on wood; 48 x 72 in. Courtesy of the artist and Locks Gallery, Philadelphia. Photo: John Carlano.