ShowUp Announces Far, Dark Places, a solo show by Craig Cromartie
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2026, Boston – ShowUp is pleased to announce its upcoming guest-curated exhibition, Far, Dark Places, on view from September 4 - November 1, 2026. Curated by Marla McLeod, this solo show by emerging artist Craig Cromartie features artwork made during and since the artist’s incarceration. An opening reception will be held on Friday, September 4th, 2026 from 5pm to 8pm.
Far, Dark Places showcases Craig Cromartie, a self-taught artist who started creating art as a means of mental escape during his incarceration. Restricted to supplies available within the prison system, Cromartie devised worlds of fantasy melting into abstraction, highly symbolic landscape pastiches, or psychedelic surrealism all with standard-issue paper, colored pencils, tape, q-tips, and watercolors.
Illustrating a variety of life experiences and milestones (and their attendant struggles) his worlds of real or imagined locations often feature contradictions and opposing forces. Dualistic themes such as the battle of good versus evil appear repeatedly. The artist also meditates on mental health, journeys and decision making, as well as the healing power of music, art and nature. Through it all, the viewer and the tableaux are often under surveillance from within, as the theme of an all-seeing eye insinuates itself into many works.
From Marla McLeod: "I'm honored to be able to share Craig's work with the citizens of Boston. Craig's work bears witness to the many experiences of people incarcerated in MA as he walks the viewer through sometimes calm but most of the time chaotic and blended visuals of mental spaces isolated but not separated from the world outside of prison."
“Cromartie is a new creative voice that follows in the footsteps of many highly talented self-taught artists” says Christine O’Donnell, Executive Director of ShowUp. “We are delighted to be featuring this work as a new contribution to the canon of Outsider Art."
ShowUp is open Thursdays - Saturdays 12-5 and Sundays 11-4. An opening reception for Far, Dark Places will be held on Friday, September 4th from 5pm to 8pm. An artist talk and additional events will be announced in the coming weeks.
About the Artist
Craig Cromartie was born and raised in and around Boston, MA. He spent his youth running errands for his elders in the Old Dudley neighborhood as well as in Dorchester, Roxbury, Mission Hill, and the lower South End. But soon life began to spiral out of control: a house fire separated his family of ten siblings and he ended up dropping out of school in the 6th grade.
Peer pressure and a young mind led to a life of crime and constant arrests. He spent over twenty years in and out of the court system, and at the age of forty-six Cromartie found himself imprisoned once again. However, this time he found a new outlet to express himself. Through art he was allowed to express the trauma and pain of childhood and reflect on life choices.
Cromartie has found a love for creating and sharing his art. Since his release in late 2025 he has turned his efforts toward creating new art and exhibiting the works he made while in prison. Now, Cromartie continues to expand on his experiences in the world outside of prison. You may find him rolling around the streets of Roxbury, MA in his cart, painting en plein air. His new works are inspired by this expanded world and a bright open future.
About the Curator
Marla L. McLeod explores identity and social constructs within Black communities through her curation, as well as working as a portrait painter, textile artist, and sculptor. Currently a Wagner Foundation Studio Resident at the Boston Center for the Arts, McLeod opened her first solo museum exhibition at the Columbus Museum of Art in Columbus, Ohio in 2023 as the Aminah Robinson Resident Artist. Her artwork has been exhibited in spaces such as the Boston Sculptors Gallery, the deCordova Museum Triennial, Boston City Hall, Mighty Real/Queer Detroit, MI, Black Portraitures at NYU, and Columbia College in SC.
She began her curatorial role in 2020 working on the Area Code Art fair in Boston, MA and her latest curatorial project “Weaving: an Address” with Umbrella Arts in Concord, MA closed in October of 2025 and celebrated the Black history of Concord, MA.
McLeod began her teaching career as an adjunct professor immediately after receiving her MFA from the SMFA where she was a Post-Teaching Graduate Fellow in 2020. She has since taught at institutions such as MIT and Boston College in MA, MECAD in ME, and SCSU in CT. She is currently an Adjunct Professor at Southern Connecticut State University in CT and supports the Art Therapy program with New Beginnings Re-Entry Services in Boston,MA.
About ShowUp
ShowUp is a Boston-based contemporary art gallery and education space focused on featuring underrepresented visions and voices. Focused on sustainability practices, ethics, and the power of representation, ShowUp works to nurture the careers of high-potential, talented curators and artists through thoughtful support, an innovative environment, and unique opportunities.
Its mission is to
CONNECT artists to local communities and beyond
AMPLIFY artists and their voices
PROVIDE artists tools for self-sufficiency
EMPOWER artists and curators to experiment, learn, and have meaningful exchanges
Learn more on ShowUp’s website and Instagram.
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