Tiger Strikes Asteroid Philadelphia is pleased to announce our annual open call exhibition, (re)FOCUS at Tiger Strikes Asteroid. This group exhibition will run from January 20, 2024, to February 24, 2024, and will be one of many exhibitions taking part in (re)FOCUS: Then and Now, a city-wide 50th-anniversary celebration of Philadelphia Focuses on Women in the Visual Arts/1974. 

We are thrilled to present the work of Rita Bernstein, Michelle Marcuse and Monica Mohnot.

Rita Bernstein
Rita Bernstein was born in Brooklyn, New York, and following a career as a civil rights attorney, she has been a working artist in several genres for many years.  She was awarded a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 2019.  She has also received a B.A. in English, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Barnard College of Columbia University and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. 

Her work is represented by Gross McCleaf Gallery (Philadelphia), KlompChing Gallery (Brooklyn), and Catherine Couturier Gallery (Houston).  Her pictures are in the collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; the University of Michigan Museum of Art; and the Woodmere Art Museum.  Her work has been widely exhibited, including at the Philadelphia Museum of Art; the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Griffin Museum; the Noyes Museum of Art; Fleisher Art Memorial; the University of Pennsylvania; Moore College of Art and Design; and the University of the Arts.  

Bernstein was selected for the prestigious Fleisher Art Memorial Challenge Exhibition and has also been the recipient of fellowships and grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; the Independence Foundation; the Leeway Foundation; and the Ruttenberg Arts Foundation. Her exhibitions have been reviewed in many publications, including the New York Times; the Photo Review; the Boston Globe; the Philadelphia Inquirer; Black and White Magazine; and Lenswork, among others.

Michelle Marcuse
Michelle Marcuse, a South African American artist, resides in Philadelphia, PA. Her recent work is influenced by the folk-art traditions of Southern Africa, specifically those of the Zulu and Zimbabwean wire-works and textiles. Focusing on artistic awareness within transcultural experiences, she encourages viewers to reevaluate the sometimes-overlooked complexities and nuances not seen in mainstream narratives.

Marcuse obtained a Bachelor of Design from The Shenkar College of Engineering and Design in Israel and a BFA in painting at the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia. She has participated in both solo and group exhibitions at venues such as the Corcoran School, BLAM Projects, Taller Boricua, Little Haitian Cultural Center, Art Life Foundation, and Restart Museum. Her work is in The Philadelphia Art Museum collection.

Among her achievements are a CFEVA fellowship, Shortlist Joan Mitchell Foundation 2021, nomination for The Pew Fellowship in the Arts, and an installation at The Philadelphia International Airport Art Program. Marcuse is a finalist for the Brandywine Workshop Visiting Artist-in-Residence Program; more information will follow in upcoming months

Monica Mohnot
I am an Indian American visual artist based in Austin, Texas, who draws inspiration from the intricate beauty of the natural world and her experiences navigating diverse cultural realms. Born and raised in Kolkata, India, I moved to the United States in 2001 after my marriage. Holding a BFA in painting from Texas State University, San Marcos, and an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, my artworks integrate painting with woven, stitched, and quilted textile pieces, often utilizing vintage textiles, especially saris, to engage with the South Asian diaspora and address contemporary gender and labor issues.

My paintings, employing acrylics, oils, and pastels, portray abstract bodily forms, simplified landscapes, and distinctive patterns. I aspire to create a visual language that captures the fluidity of identity and the universal human experiences of otherness, movement, change, and growth. Beyond the canvas, I enjoy precious moments with my husband and two daughters, sharing a close connection with music, indulging in travel, movie marathons, and cooking together. These moments of joy contribute to the fulfillment I find in both family life and my artistic pursuits.