Julia C. Butridge Gallery Exhibit: Errant Obsession

Faith Chonko, Tear her apart, collage and acrylic.

Errant Obsession

Faith Chonko
On Display October 10 – November 28, 2026

Artist Reception: Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 7-9 p.m.
Artist Talk: Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 7-9 p.m.
Austin Studio Tour: November 14-15 & 21-22, 2026, 11am-5 p.m.

There is an immense power that lies in our collective focus, but what are we actually doing with it? Cycling manias leave us endlessly seeking new makeup techniques and products, maximizing our bodies and faces through ritualistic diets and movements, dissecting the lives of those on a public stage, and tapping into new ways to stoke a stranger’s anger. The all-consuming forces of addiction and obsession can entirely reshape our lives and distract us from deeper purpose when that same energy could be put towards something greater instead. “Errant Obsession” explores this internal struggle, while trying to reveal what transformation and escape from the mental trap may look like. It asks the viewer to surface the undercurrent that lies within and replace their errant obsessions with benevolent ones.