Unplugged, a group exhibition showing at the James Oliver Gallery in Philadelphia, features the work of Klein College of Media and Communication alumnus Scott Troxel, KLN ‘94. The show brings together 12 artists from around the world whose colorful pieces highlight the bond of community within a world of chaos. 

Troxel is a New Jersey-based mixed media artist who primarily works with wood, paint and industrial materials to create vibrant wall sculptures. Unplugged showcases two of Troxel’s retrofuturist sculptures, Quiet Riot IV and Voyager 5. Many of Troxel’s other sculptures have found homes in commercial spaces such as the Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital campus and in several corporate collections, including those for Temple University, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Capital One corporate headquarters and ​J. Alexander's Holdings Restaurants. 

In the curator’s statement for Unplugged, Johnny Romeo, the acclaimed Australian pop artist who curated the show, praised the commitment of the artists to create colorful work that is especially needed during these uncertain times. “Working with James Oliver Gallery, I aimed to curate a show that celebrates connection, creativity and community, that aspires to envision a world beyond the Coronavirus where we can all finally ‘unplug’ from the restrictive reality of life under quarantine,” he said.

James Oliver, owner of the James Oliver Gallery and a fellow contributing artist to Unplugged, said that Troxel's novel wall sculptures for the exhibition "adds a little more depth and complexity to the show."

Troxel transitioned into full-time artistry just a few years ago after a long career as a branding and marketing professional. During his undergraduate years, he transferred from a community college where he pursued an art degree and enrolled at Temple as an undeclared major. Eventually, his roommate inspired him to pursue a radio/television/film major. The modernity of handheld recording technology fit Troxel’s avant-garde sensibilities, and he wanted to produce work that mirrored the freedom of videography. He believes that his unconventional path to fine artistry was due in large part to the “diverse program” available to him at Klein.

“It’s weird because I didn’t end up in the radio, television or film industry but I look back at that time that I was at Temple and the aesthetics classes that I had and the film history classes and things like that I think were really invaluable to a base foundation...to get where I am now,” Troxel said.

Unplugged, which also features the work of Temple alumnus Vance McCoy, TYL ‘90, is showing by appointment or walk-in until November 28 at the James Oliver Gallery.