Mothra Liddel

Mothra Liddel — Artist & Curator

01 — Selected Works

Visual

Sediment I–VII

Sediment I–VII

2024 · Oil & encaustic on linen · 180 × 240 cm

Archive Studies

Archive Studies

2023 · Graphite on paper · 120 × 90 cm

Fold

Fold

2023 · Mixed media

Unmarked, Untitled

Unmarked, Untitled

2022 · Installation

Relic

Relic

2022 · Encaustic on panel

Untitled VI

Untitled VI

2022 · Mixed media

02 — Performance

Performance

Illumi-naughty Occult Burlesque: Krampusnacht!

Illumi-naughty Occult Burlesque: Krampusnacht!

The Newport Theater

December 5, 2025

Arts in the Dark Parade

10th Annual Arts in the Dark Parade with Chicago Full Moon Jam

October 19, 2024

Sacred Feel Goods

Sacred Feel Goods

The Theosophical Society in America

October 2024

Rathole Music Fest

Rathole Music Fest

Bourbon on Division

July 29, 2024

03 — Curatorial Projects

Curatorial

01 — 2026

Narratives of the Flesh II: Embodied Grief

International Museum of Surgical Science

2026

Coming soon...

02 — 2025

Ghosts of Winters Past and Future: A Holiday Mourning

Agitator Gallery · December 12, 2025 – January 17, 2026

2025
"The days are short and the nights are long, join us to welcome to coming of the light. We invite the community to participate in holiday mirth, solemnity, and rememberence as we struggle together through the scourge of this post-capitalist ice hell. Work will celebrate the folkloric and forgotten roots of the season, remembering the traditions of the monsterous, ghostly, and fiendish characters of Yuletide, and reminding us that the holidays are about solidarity, community, and giving. Together, we honor our grief at the darkest part of the year, and make space for hope in the coming year."

Ghosts of Winters Past and Future: A Holiday Mourning brought the community together across a series of free events celebrating solidarity, grief, and seasonal folklore. Programming included communal tree trimming, DIY ornament and garland making, cookies and holiday beverages, a handmade gift exchange, refreshments, music, a food drive, a hygiene and menstruation product drive benefiting Chicago Recovery Alliance street team, and a stocking stuffing and small toy drive benefiting LIFE Impacters Toys for Tots. A Winter Solstice reception on December 21 was held in partnership with Pagan Action Network Chicago. The show closed with live performances by Secrets of the Beehive and Vivian Meretrix.
03 — 2024

Void Oblation: Redefining Psychedelic Arts and Culture

Agitator Gallery · November 23 – December 6, 2024

2024
"Void Oblation invites us to gaze inward into the confusion, ambivalence, and discord we hide and reveal in the shadow parts of ourselves through the lens of the psychedelic experience. We challenge preconceptions of how we define "psychedelic" and the role such experiences can have in our journeys of self-discovery. The psychedelic experience is at once visionary, transformative, challenging, revolutionary, terrifying, blissful, disorganized, saturated, poetic, frenetic, and endlessly mutating. "Psychedelic" experiences are not limited to chemically induced phenomena - a huge range of human experiences and emotions can induce perceptual shifts, radical introspection, shadow work, self-confrontation, and ultimately the opportunity for transmutation.

Void Oblation showcases work from artists working in a wide variety of media that are in some way redefining what it looks like to gaze into the void in the context of the "psychedelic" experience. If we are to shift cultural perceptions surrounding the role of psychedelics in personal growth and healing, we must sit with what the psychedelic experience actually means, feels, and looks like. To fully integrate these experiences we must sit with the challenging aspects as well as the ecstatic ones. The pieces selected for this show confront this dissonance and celebrate the nuance and confusion this experience can bring.

Void oblation - an offering of oneself, in veneration and gratitude, into the chaos of the unknown."

Void Oblation showcased 13 visual artists alongside four free public events spanning art, music, fashion, harm reduction, and education. Programming included an opening reception with a live DJ set by BARAKAT, a debut fashion runway collection by BLNDGVSLS and pop-up shop, a live performance by Chicago Noise and Free Jazz Orchestra (SNAFJO), and live projection visuals by Hydrosonic Light Show. A psychedelic art therapy workshop led by Valery Shuman ATR, LCPC of Sana Healing Collective and Lauren Parente LCSW, CADC explored ketamine-assisted therapy integration through case presentation, discussion, and participatory art making. The show closed with a focus on harm reduction featuring a panel discussion with Geoff Bathje PhD, Jeanne Porges of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Sean Johnston of Chicago Recovery Alliance, and other community harm reduction advocates, and a policy-focused letter writing workshop in partnership with SSDP in support of the Illinois CURE Act. All events were free and open to the public.
03 — Fundraising

Fundraising

01 — 2026

Let Yourself Shine! Benefit Auction with Bold Urban Renaissance for Brave Space Alliance

IO Theater

February 2026

Let Yourself Shine! was a fundraising event in partnership with Bold Urban Renaissance Network that included a digital silent art auction. The event and auction benefited Brave Space Alliance, the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ center located on the South Side of Chicago, dedicated to providing affirming, culturally competent, and community-sourced resources, programs, and services to empower, embolden, and educate transgender and gender-nonconforming people.

02 — 2025

Burners Without Borders 2025 Winter Ball Benefit Art Auction

Salvage One

February 2025

Fundraising event for Bold Urban Renaissance Network and Burners Without Borders Chicago chapter. Silent Art Auction proceeds benefitted BURN/BWB's community ignition microgrant project. Auction included over 60 art objects donated by community members and local artists.

03 — 2025

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Family Benefit Show & Auction

Agitator Gallery

August 2025

Musical performances from over four acts and silent art auction featuring over 20 artworks donated or commissioned by the event. Proceeds benefited the family of Kilmar Abrego Garcia as well as legal defense costs through National Day Laborers Organizing Network (NDLON).

03 — Selected Exhibition History

Exhibitions & Projects

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2026

Art Bar Batavia

Sturdy Shelter Brewing

Batavia, IL

2026

The Great Lace: World's Fair

Commissioned Work

Chicago, IL

2025, 2026

Art Bar Aurora

Two Brothers Roundhouse

Aurora, IL

2025

Ghosts of Winter's Past and Future

Agitator Gallery

Chicago, IL

2025

Narratives of the Flesh

International Museum of Surgical Science

Chicago, IL

2025

Art Bar Batavia

Sidecar Supperclub

Batavia, IL

2024

Void Oblation: Redefining Psychedelic Art & Culture

Agitator Gallery

Chicago, IL

05 — Critical & Creative Texts

Writing

Coming Soon