Paradigm Gallery + Studio is pleased to present Cities of love, a transatlantic-inspired exhibition curated by Jeroen Smeets, founder and curator of The Jaunt traveling artist residency program. In Cities of love, The Jaunt and Paradigm Gallery have invited the Paris-based artist Tom Haugomat and the Philadelphia-based artist Anuj Shrestha to spend time and become inspired by each others city. As a true exchange, these artists can capture the essence and community that fuel these thriving hubs of artistic cultivation with an outsider's perspective.

In October 2024 illustrator Tom Haugomat traveled to Philadelphia for his first visit to the City of Brotherly Love and spent his days walking amongst the historic streets, the brownstone houses, and parks and documenting the small and mundane moments of bliss within the city. Through his walks, Haugomat captured the everyday magic of Philadelphia through sketches of couples at the park or the skyline after a rainy day. While he explored the city he also met with illustrator Anuj Shrestha to learn more about the city through the eyes of another artist who has worked with visual storytelling much like Haugomat himself. A month later in November 2024, Shrestha traveled to Paris, the City of Love, to explore the historic French quarters, its world renowned museums, and capturing the daily lives of Parisians. Shrestha blends the real with the surreal in delicate ink drawings with imagined creatures inspired by his travels.

The artwork of both artists now come together at Paradigm Gallery for the highly-anticipated exhibition Cities of love. Haugomat has created an extensive series of his trademark miniature acrylic paintings on paper. Anuj Shrestha has created a series of line drawings and riso prints in his own signature style. The works combined showcase their unique eye for the surroundings in their trademark styles.

Both artists were invited to travel through The Jaunt, which is a unique art project that invites artists to spent time in a place they have never been before in order to become inspired. Since 2013, the project has worked with more than 100 different artists over the years, and is excited to be back at Paradigm for a fourth exhibition together with Paradigm Gallery in Philadelphia.

Tom Haugomat and Anuj Shrestha: Cities of love will be on view on the first floor of the Paradigm Arts Building (12 N 3rd St) from June 5 through June 29, 2025, and is presented as part of Paradigm’s year-long 15th anniversary celebration.