The Styrous® Viewfinder: The Orchard / Galleries on 25 ~ Joseph Slusky

photo by Styrous®

The first group exhibition at the Galleries on 25 (link below) had a remarkable number of attendees as well as favorable online reviews (links below).

In conjunction with the Gray Loft Gallery, the Galleries on 25 is preparing for it's second round of amazing visual, sculptural and installation artists with the following announcement:

You are cordially invited to the
Opening Reception of THREE Exhibitions
at The Orchard / Galleries on 25
Saturday, February 28, 2:00 - 5:00 pm

The Orchard / Galleries on 25 and Gray Loft Gallery
are pleased to present three exhibitions:

The Orchard is honored to present a solo retrospective of the 50-year international career of Bella Feldman. Bella Tabak Feldman (1930–2024) was an American sculptor and installation artist whose work merged steel, glass, and wood into psychologically charged, often surreal forms that probe themes of war, sexuality, vulnerability, and the anxieties of the industrial age. A pioneering woman in sculpture and a Professor Emerita at California College of the Arts in Oakland, she is widely recognized for innovating techniques that combine blown glass with fabricated metal, producing works that are at once physically imposing and emotionally fragile.
We present nationally recognized metal sculptor Joseph Slusky with a selection of recent and past work. He is best known for his whimsical painted metal sculptures made from recycled scrap metal. Influences include metal toys, LA car culture, Constructivism and other twentieth century art movements. The sculptures explore realms of the subconscious and are fossilizations of the imagination. Joe taught drawing and three-dimensional design at the UC Berkeley Architecture Department for thirty-two years.

painting by Joseph Slusky

photo by Styrous®

Curated by Gray Loft Gallery, we are delighted to present a satellite exhibition of the Art of the African Diaspora at the Richmond Art Center which is the longest running event of its kind in the Bay Area. It began in 1989 as a salon for African American artists known as Colors of Black, organized by artist and professor Marie Johnson Calloway. This exhibition features 19 artists selected from the Richmond Art Center AOTAD roster, all of whom live and work in the Bay Area.
Featured Artists:
Cynthia Brannvall, Stephen Bruce, Kim Champion, Cairo McCockran, Kelvin Curry, Anna W. Edwards, Jimi Evins, Eva Facey, Kin Folkz, Chuck Harlins, Raymond L. Haywood, Alexis Joseph, Gathoni Kamau-Devers, Ashlie Kego, Eric Murphy, Arthur Norcome, Malcolm Ryder, Xan Walker, Darrin Westmore

Show dates: February 28 through May 2, 2026
Opening Reception: Saturday, February 28, 2:00 - 5:00 pm
Closing Reception: Saturday, May 2, 1:00 – 5:00 pm

The Orchard /Galleries on 25
489 - 25th Street, Oakland CA 94612

Joseph Slusky was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1942 and attended UC Berkeley for his BA, 1966, and his MA 1968. In a Norfolk Press article (link below) he said:

"In December 2014, I had neck surgery and was on a physical therapy regimen that put restrictions on weight lifting, bending and twisting. During this period I took a break from doing welded metal sculpture. I focused instead on doing a series of drawings on restaurant menus. As I was working on these drawings, I realized the process was akin to making a sculpture in steel. In these drawings traces of the initial maze of general lines remain and become part of the final drawing as well as the erasures and alterations made by using China markers. The subtractive process employed in resolving a welded metal sculpture is achieved through use of an oxygen – a acetylene cutting torch for removing or altering parts of the work. After the “Menu” drawings were “sculpturally” resolved, I then used felt tip pens to give color to the shapes and forms. With the metal sculptures, a lengthy process of hand painting occurs after the grinding and application of primer."

with his artwork

date & photographer unknown

In 2011 there was a beautifully printed paperback edition of his work, Joseph Slusky Sculpture 1965 - 1975 published by Norfolk Press.

installation photos by Styrous®

About The Orchard / Galleries on 25
The Orchard / Galleries on 25, is a vibrant arts venue located in the heart of the Oakland Art Murmur District and a new arts destination in Oakland’s thriving Art Murmur district, offering space for galleries and individual artists to present exhibitions, installations, and events. With its collaborative model and spacious layout, Galleries on 25 aims to foster community engagement and showcase the creative diversity that defines the Bay Area art scene.

About Gray Loft Gallery Uptown

Gray Loft Gallery Uptown is the satellite location of our Jingletown gallery, which has been inspiring art and enriching the local cultural landscape since 2012. Gray Loft Uptown continues this mission by providing exhibition opportunities in a space that offers an alternative to the traditional gallery model. We foster creativity, meaningful engagement, and celebration within our community and beyond. We proudly support emerging, mid-career, and established artists, with a special emphasis on those who live and work in the Bay Area.

The gallery was voted Best Art Gallery in 2016, 2017, and 2021, and ranked among the top five from 2022 to 2025 in the Oakland Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards. The gallery is a proud member of the San Francisco Art Dealers Association, Oakland Art Murmur and Jingletown Arts, Business and Community.

Viewfinder links:

Gray Loft Gallery

The Orchard / Galleries on 25

Joseph Slusky

Styrous®

Net links:

Artbrokers ~ Joseph Slusky images

Dome Center for the Arts, Music & Dance ~ Joseph Slusky

Gray Loft Gallery

Kala Art Institute ~ Joseph Slusky

Norfolk Press ~ Joseph Slusky Painted Paper Sculptures

The Orchard / Galleries on 25