Portraits of Things: Paintings by Gioia Fonda and Charlie Gill at Pence Gallery in Davis
Exhibit: October 9 – November 29, 2026
Reception: Friday, October 9, 6-9 PM (Free)
Artist Talk: Sunday, November 8, 2-3:30 PM (Free)
Interdisciplinary artist Gioia Fonda has long collected colorful toys, both for their intrinsic charm and as creative inspiration. As a student at California College of the Arts, she arranged small collectibles into still-life compositions, captured them on film, and processed the photos at a local drugstore. Captivated by these arrangements, her advisor, Charlie Gill, painted spare compositions based on her photographs—works that now hang alongside hers. For this exhibition, Fonda has created a series of new paintings featuring similar arrangements of toys and found objects. She is also offering an opportunity for members of the public to exhibit their own small works on paper, riffing on some of her recent photos. Artists may add to this display throughout the duration of the show.
Sponsored by the Pence Community Curatorial Fund.
Image: Gioia Fonda, “Holding It Together”
