Rhys Edwards Explores AI and Still Life in 'Autophagia' at Wil Aballe

Rhys Edwards, a Vancouver-based artist, is gearing up for his first solo show named "Autophagia," in partnership with Wil Aballe. This exhibition will take place from July 29 to September 5, 2026, at 1375 Railspur Alley, Vancouver, BC. Edwards’ contemporary still-life oil paintings delve into the fragile link between images and reality. He combines floral art from the Dutch Golden Age with modern AI-generated images, blending realistic objects and flowers with found photos and AI elements. The term "Autophagia" refers to the self-referential cycle in AI training. Edwards’ work embodies this contradiction, offering a realistic appearance while evading a clear interpretation of reality. He is also a writer and curator, contributing to various art publications, and will begin a Master's in Painting and Drawing at Concordia University this fall. Additionally, the exhibition is part of Booooooom's initiative, which includes a letter from the founder and a call for contributions to the Tomorrow's Talent 5 book.