{"id":2097751,"date":"2026-08-17T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2097751"},"modified":"2026-08-17T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T21:00:00","slug":"in-jewel-like-paintings-wiley-wallace-conjures-enchantment-in-the-desert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2097751","title":{"rendered":"In Jewel-Like Paintings, Wiley Wallace Conjures Enchantment in the Desert"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1730\" height=\"1732\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wallace-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a small acrylic painting by Wiley Wallace of a dusky desert scene with four young women seated around a giant prismatic crystal\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cCrystal Basin\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 8 x 8 inches. All images courtesy of the artist and Arch Enemy Arts, Philadelphia, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">In Jewel-Like Paintings, Wiley Wallace Conjures Enchantment in the Desert<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-17T12:09:01-05:00\">August 17, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"colossal-share-buttons\">\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--facebook\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F08%2Fwiley-wallace-night-blooms-acrylic-paintings-desert-crystals%2F&amp;title=In%20Jewel-Like%20Paintings%2C%20Wiley%20Wallace%20Conjures%20Enchantment%20in%20the%20Desert\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Share<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--pinterest\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F08%2Fwiley-wallace-night-blooms-acrylic-paintings-desert-crystals%2F&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Fwallace-1-960x961.jpg&amp;description=In%20Jewel-Like%20Paintings%2C%20Wiley%20Wallace%20Conjures%20Enchantment%20in%20the%20Desert\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share to Pinterest\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Pin<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--email\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email this article\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Email<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--copy\">\n\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Copy article link\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link colossal-share-button__copy\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/08\/wiley-wallace-night-blooms-acrylic-paintings-desert-crystals\/\" data-label-default=\"Copy\" data-label-copied=\"Copied!\" data-aria-default=\"Copy article link\" data-aria-copied=\"Link copied to clipboard\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-live=\"polite\">Copy<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--bookmark\">\n\t\t\t<button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"476844\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>From mysterious lights and malevolent mists to ghosts and spirits like the Din\u00e9\u2019s skinwalkers, the desert has long spawned myths and tales of the supernatural. The American West, in particular, is characterized by its vast canyons, plateaus, and mountains, along with the rugged individualism of its inhabitants who make their lives in a landscape many would deem inhospitable. It\u2019s also not difficult to imagine how the atmospheres of powerful monsoons, the unrelenting sun, or the light of a full moon may conjure the uncanny.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wileywallace.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wiley Wallace<\/a>, who is based in Phoenix, harnesses the magic of the desert in glowing acrylic paintings featuring crystals, enigmatic energy forces, starlight, and specters. His current solo exhibition, <em>Night Bloom <\/em>at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.archenemyarts.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Arch Enemy Arts<\/a>, features suitably gem-like works that are 16 inches wide at the largest and as small as six by six inches, exhibiting incredible detail.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wallace-7.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476844\" title=\"\u201cPassage\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 6 x 6 inches\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cPassage\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 6 x 6 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cPassage\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 6 x 6 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1688\" height=\"1686\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wallace-7.jpg\" alt=\"a small acrylic painting by Wiley Wallace of a dusky desert scene with a billowing cloud over the horizon and a seated woman in the foreground with a jar full of tiny lights\" class=\"wp-image-476851\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cPassage\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 6 x 6 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In dusky desert scenes, figures convene around nebula-like swirls of light and giant prismatic crystals that appear to rise right in front of them. Wallace evokes wonder and contemplation more than fear or trepidation, as if these events have been sought or even summoned. They may also represent portals, perhaps to other spirit realms or phases of life, with their inherent enchantment in the unexplained and the sublime.<\/p>\n<p><em>Night Bloom <\/em>continues through August 30 in Philadelphia. See more on the artist\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wileywallace\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wallace-6.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476844\" title=\"\u201cNight Bloom\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 16 x 12 inches\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cNight Bloom\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 16 x 12 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cNight Bloom\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 16 x 12 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1429\" height=\"1914\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wallace-6.jpg\" alt=\"a small acrylic painting by Wiley Wallace of a dusky desert scene with three young women standing around a nebula-like energy force\" class=\"wp-image-476850\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cNight Bloom\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 16 x 12 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wallace-5.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476844\" title=\"\u201cHidden Prism\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 8 x 8 inches\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cHidden Prism\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 8 x 8 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cHidden Prism\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 8 x 8 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1687\" height=\"1685\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wallace-5.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-476849\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cHidden Prism\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 8 x 8 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wallace-4.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476844\" title=\"\u201cDrifting\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 11 x 14 inches\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cDrifting\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 11 x 14 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cDrifting\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 11 x 14 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1791\" height=\"1407\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wallace-4.jpg\" alt=\"a small acrylic painting by Wiley Wallace of a dusky desert scene with a woman standing in the foreground, an empty billboard in the background\" class=\"wp-image-476848\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cDrifting\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 11 x 14 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wallace-3.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476844\" title=\"\u201cDream Mineral\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 12-inch hexagon\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cDream Mineral\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 12-inch hexagon\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cDream Mineral\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 12-inch hexagon\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1817\" height=\"1594\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wallace-3.jpg\" alt=\"a small acrylic painting in a hexagonal shape by Wiley Wallace of a dusky desert scene with a woman seated next to a geometric, crystalline structure\" class=\"wp-image-476847\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cDream Mineral\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 12-inch hexagon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wallace-2.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476844\" title=\"\u201cDesert Prism\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 6 x 6 inches\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cDesert Prism\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 6 x 6 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cDesert Prism\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 6 x 6 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1653\" height=\"1653\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wallace-2.jpg\" alt=\"a small acrylic painting by Wiley Wallace of a dusky desert scene with a prismatic crystal in the foreground\" class=\"wp-image-476846\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cDesert Prism\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 6 x 6 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wallace-8.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476844\" title=\"\u201cStar Dust\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 16 x 12 inches\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cStar Dust\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 16 x 12 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cStar Dust\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 16 x 12 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1416\" height=\"1914\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wallace-8.jpg\" alt=\"a small acrylic painting by Wiley Wallace of a dusky desert scene with a woman in the foreground with arms made of waves of blue energy that seem to feed into a form behind her\" class=\"wp-image-476852\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cStar Dust\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 16 x 12 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wallace-9.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476844\" title=\"\u201cToward the Glow\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 6 x 6 inches\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cToward the Glow\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 6 x 6 inches\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cToward the Glow\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 6 x 6 inches\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1644\" height=\"1648\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wallace-9.jpg\" alt=\"a small acrylic painting by Wiley Wallace of a dusky desert scene with a skeleton in the foreground, holding a jar full of tiny dispersing lights\" class=\"wp-image-476853\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cToward the Glow\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 6 x 6 inches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-benefits is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hide advertising<\/li>\n<li>Save your favorite articles<\/li>\n<li>Get 15% off in the <a href=\"https:\/\/colossal.shop\/\">Colossal Shop<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Receive members-only newsletter<\/li>\n<li>Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-options is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join us today!<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113464\">$7\/month<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113463\">$75\/year<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-chalk-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\">Explore membership options<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"20\" height=\"21\" class=\"wp-image-327872\" style=\"width: 20px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/arrow-left.svg\" alt><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/aside>\n<nav class=\"navigation post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\">\n<div class=\"nav-links\">\n<div class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/08\/maryam-yousif-ceramic-sculptures\/\" rel=\"prev\">Next article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cCrystal Basin\u201d (2026), acrylic on panel, 8 x 8 inches. All images courtesy of the artist and Arch Enemy Arts, Philadelphia, shared with permission In Jewel-Like Paintings, Wiley Wallace Conjures Enchantment in the Desert August 17, 2026 Art Kate Mothes Share Pin Email Copy Bookmark From mysterious lights and malevolent mists to ghosts and spirits [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-2097751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2097751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2097751"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2097751\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2097751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2097751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2097751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}