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Emily Mae Smith’s exhibition Transit of Venus is on view at Petzel Gallery, with surreal paintings that turn anthropomorphic broomsticks into figures associated with women’s work and power. A Hyperallergic review describes the paintings’ technical detail and dark undertones, while connecting the show’s title to themes of visibility and what remains hidden.
The review centers on Smith’s recurring broomstick figures, which appear alongside witch-like bunnies and grapes filled with eyeballs. The reviewer describes the works as technically accomplished and shadowed by a sense of darkness. In that reading, the broomsticks are more than eccentric subjects: a familiar object associated with domestic labor takes on a presence that can suggest agency and force.
In “Venus (Inner Vision)” (2026), a broomstick figure stands in a hazy wooded landscape in a contrapposto pose. The reviewer says the figure’s handle, serving as its head and torso, appears as if seen through an X-ray, with veins and organs visible. The image makes interiority literal, bringing the figure’s hidden structure into view.
The review also discusses “Petite Muse at Work” and “Straw Woman Problem,” both dated 2026 in the source. It does not provide full descriptions of those paintings, so their specific imagery and relationship to the exhibition’s themes cannot be established from the supplied account.
Broomsticks Recast as Agents
The exhibition’s imagery places an object associated with women’s work at the center of scenes that make it strange, expressive and potentially forceful. The reviewer frames the broomstick as a symbol transformed into a weapon, giving domestic labor a more complicated role than a background task. That is an interpretation of the art, rather than a claim that the paintings carry one fixed meaning.
The review’s attention to visibility and hidden feeling also offers a way to read the show beyond its surreal subjects. Smith’s exposed interiors and obscured light source draw attention to what a viewer can see, what remains concealed, and the effort involved in making a painting. The review presents those concerns as connected threads in the work.
The Show’s Astronomical Title
Transit of Venus refers to an astronomical alignment in which Venus passes between Earth and the Sun and appears as a small dark spot, according to the review. The writer connects that image to the exhibition’s interest in a light source placed behind its subject: illumination can make a figure visible while also leaving parts of it difficult to read.
The title thus provides a frame for the review’s discussion of translucency, the time required to paint, and emotion beneath a strong exterior. The source does not provide a full exhibition checklist, a complete account of Smith’s career, or further detail about the works beyond the examples it names.
““I wonder if she is getting enough credit for her anthropomorphic broomsticks now that Wicker is coming out.””
— Hyperallergic reviewer
Exhibition Details Not Supplied
The source does not state when the exhibition opened or closes, how many works are included, or whether the show has a catalogue or related public events. It also does not include a statement from Smith or Petzel Gallery about the exhibition’s intended meaning.
The review offers an interpretation of the imagery, including the idea that the broomstick becomes a weapon. The supplied material does not establish that as Smith’s own stated description. Further readings of the paintings may differ.
Viewing and Further Coverage
Readers seeking practical information about Transit of Venus, including its dates and visiting arrangements, will need to consult Petzel Gallery’s exhibition information; those details are absent from the supplied report. The Hyperallergic review provides the available account of the show’s themes and selected paintings, while additional coverage or an artist statement could clarify how Smith approaches the broomstick figures and the exhibition title.
Key Questions
What is Emily Mae Smith’s Transit of Venus?
It is an exhibition at Petzel Gallery featuring surreal paintings by Emily Mae Smith, as described in a Hyperallergic review. The source does not give the show’s dates.
What subjects appear in the paintings?
The review mentions anthropomorphic broomsticks, witch-like bunnies and grapes filled with eyeballs. It describes “Venus (Inner Vision)” as a broomstick figure in a hazy wooded landscape.
What does the broomstick represent in the review?
The reviewer reads the broomstick as a symbol of women’s work that takes on a forceful role. This is the review’s interpretation; the supplied source does not include Smith’s own explanation of the symbol.
Why is the exhibition titled Transit of Venus?
The review links the title to the astronomical alignment in which Venus passes between Earth and the Sun, appearing as a dark spot. It uses that reference to discuss light, visibility and what remains hidden in the paintings.
When can the exhibition be seen?
The supplied report does not state the exhibition’s opening or closing dates. Check Petzel Gallery’s current listings for visiting information.
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