Shanghai's Powerlong Museum will present The River, a solo exhibition by US artist Michelle Blade, opening on Nov 16. Centered on the motif of the river, the exhibition flows through themes of nature, memory, and artistic creation, showcasing Blade's distinctive painting style that weaves together romanticism and magical realism.

Born in the suburbs of Los Angeles, Blade draws inspiration from Southern California's unique interplay between natural landscapes and human-made environments. Working with thin, translucent layers of acrylic and ink, she employs a wet-on-wet technique that allows the pigments to seep and bloom, forming soft, dreamlike scenes. Her process embraces both control and chance, as if collaborating with the materials themselves.

Throughout her career, Blade has explored the relationship between landscape and inner emotion, conveying through her brush a deep spiritual connection between people and place.

The River brings together multiple series of her work, including family portraits, narrative vignettes, and large-scale landscapes. The gallery is arranged according to shifts in tone and season, reflecting the cumulative visual power of her repeated return to certain scenes and subjects.

If you go

📅 When: Nov 16, 2025 to Jan 25, 2026

📍 Where: Powerlong Museum (No 3055 Caobao Road, Minhang district)

🎫 Ticket price:

• Single ticket: 35 yuan ($4.92)
• Double ticket: 65 yuan
• Concession ticket: 30 yuan (for seniors 60+ and students with valid ID; available at the front desk)

🎟 Visitor notes:

• Online tickets must be exchanged for paper tickets at the front desk
• One child under 1.3 meters receives free admission per paying adult (child ticket required, collect at the front desk)

📱 Scan to buy tickets

Source: WeChat account of Powerlong Museum at "powerlongmuseumsh"