“Date Night” by Resident Artist Tina Borchert
Opens First Friday, June 6 - June 28, 2025
In this exhibition, humor and nostalgia collide as everyday moments are exaggerated into something playful, absurd, and unexpectedly beautiful. From intimate scenes of friends gathered around board games to vibrant storefronts bursting with commercial maximalism, the works explore the small joys that shape our routines. Through bold color palettes and dreamlike compositions, the pieces invite viewers to reconsider the familiarity of their surroundings. Whether it's the strip malls they pass by daily or the local businesses that serve as landmarks in their personal histories. This collection transforms the ordinary into the surreal, highlighting the overlooked aesthetics of the spaces we inhabit.
Tina Borchert is primarily a painter whose work is defined by an interplay of nostalgia, materialism, and consumerism. They graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Millersville University in 2023, with a concentration in painting. Tina was born and raised in Honesdale, PA—a small, northeastern town—and since attending Millersville, switched to permanent residency in Lancaster. Their artistic journey has been enriched by diverse experiences, which include a recent role in the Second State Press’s FOB Holder program in Philadelphia, where they spent several months exploring printmaking. They also held positions as Painting Studio Technician and Eckert Art Gallery Assistant while at Millersville University.
Tina has exhibited their work in various galleries across Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Missouri, as well as online platforms. The works exhibited have been a mix between painting and ceramic sculpture. Their talent has been recognized with awards such as 1st Place at Millersville's Annual Juried Student Exhibition and the Gallerium's Editor's Pick Prize.
Central to Tina’s artistic practice is also a blend of humor and reflection. Their paintings frequently incorporate personal relics and childhood memories, such as vintage toys and iconic labels, to evoke both personal and collective memories. Tina’s work delves into the absurdities and delights of modern consumption, using humor—ranging from subtle hints of it to extreme exaggeration—to engage viewers and provoke thoughtful reflection, and of course a laugh or two. This creative approach is driven by Tina’s profound belief in the indispensable role of art in their life.