The Spiral Universe

If you’re in LA, you really should go see “The Spiral Universe,” a solo show of artworks by Madam X that just opened at the Philosophical Research Society in Los Feliz. (It closes April 19.) The show has many intricate, mandala-like paintings, textiles, and sculptures by this visionary outsider artist, who spent decades in near-total obscurity until last year’s “Circumnavigating the Sphere of Time” at Space Ten Gallery (a show organized by friend-of-Lightplay Axel Wilhite). That initial show resulted in a beautiful catalog, which I’m delighted to have a copy of. This latest show, which runs through April 19, lacks a catalog, but it has its own magic, partly stemming from the setting. Madam X’s alternately metaphysical and satirical works are presented in the occult complex of the Philosophical Research Society, a strange space built by the prolific magical-tract-writer Manly P. Hall. I plan to eventually write more about Madam X’s work in this space (here’s a blog post I wrote after her previous show went up). For now I heartily recommend seizing the chance to see her work in person.