Girl World by Courtney Costa

Girl World was a solo exhibition by Courtney Costa presented at the Langford Art Gallery in Phoenix, Oregon from May 31 through August 1, 2026. The exhibition featured a selection of work created over the previous seven years of Costa's artistic practice, and included illustrations, paintings, and sculptural papier-mâché pieces.

In addition to the opening reception, Girl World was accompanied by a series of public events, including an artist talk, multiple Second Friday events, and a pop culture lecture exploring the inspirations and themes behind the collection.

Girl World marked Courtney Costa's first solo exhibition, representing a significant milestone in her artistic career.

About The Exhibition
“Girl World is a collection of works inspired by pop culture, gothic literature, film, and the seasons of the Pacific Northwest. Drawing from familiar textures of everyday life, the series transforms these references into a slightly surreal dreamscape — one that feels recognizable, yet just a little out of step with reality. Each piece reads like a cinematic fragment, a moment glimpsed in passing. Figures wander through the rooms of a haunted estate, drift through atmospheric interiors, or frolic across landscapes that feel both pastoral and strangely otherworldly. The scenes suggest narrative without fully resolving it, inviting the viewer to linger in a space somewhere between memory, imagination, and a dream.
At its core, Girl World imagines a playful and liberating universe where girls are free to exist on their own terms — to explore, lounge, daydream, or occasionally misbehave without apology. It is a world of curiosity, independence, and quiet rebellion; a place where fantasy gently bends reality and everyday moments become something a little more magical.” - Phoenix Helio

Contemporary art gallery with three ceramic sculptures resembling buildings on display, and colorful paintings hanging on white walls.
An art gallery or exhibition space with white walls, displaying various paintings. One painting depicts a woman's face with curly hair, and other artworks on the right side feature scenes with figures and landscapes. A small mask or sculpture is moun
A mixed-media artwork titled 'Celestial Woman' from 2026, featuring a portrait of a woman with a textured, dark-colored face and hair, decorated with star and crescent moon motifs in gold and white, on a cardboard base.
An art gallery with paintings on the walls and a patterned rug on the floor. The gallery has white walls and a concrete floor, with an open doorway leading to another room.
A mixed media art piece titled 'Plant Woman' from 2026, created with paper mache, cardboard, plaster, acrylic paint, and wire. It features a stylized face of a woman with green and black accents, surrounded by plant-like designs at the bottom.
Painting on gallery wall depicting a group of people mountain biking on a orange and red landscape with trees and hills in the background.
View of an art gallery with artwork displayed on white walls, wooden floors, and concrete flooring. Includes a group of colorful miniature houses on a wooden pedestal, and a large painting on the wall depicting a fantasy forest scene with animals and
A black, green, and white painting depicting a garden scene with trees, bushes, and various animals including a white rabbit, a bird, and a fox. Several people are seen walking, sitting, or interacting in the garden, with some near a fountain and oth
An art gallery with white walls and concrete floor, featuring colorful paintings and three architectural models on pedestals in the foreground.
Art exhibit featuring paper mache houses with painted designs in an art gallery space. A large painting of a mystical forest scene with trees and animals hangs on the wall.
Artwork of a colorful forest scene with tall trees, people, and animals, displayed on a gallery wall.
A green mask with black horns and closed eyes, painted with floral patterns, mounted on a white wall. The mask is labeled as 'Green Goddess,' created in 2026 using paper-maché, cardboard, plaster, and acrylic paint, costing $200.
People attending an art gallery exhibition, viewing paintings on the walls, with some conversing and others looking at the art.
A painting depicting a rural scene with several women, children, and chickens near trees, a white truck, a barn, and a car, set against a vivid red background.
An art gallery exhibits a carved wooden owl sculpture on a wooden platform in a room with painted and artwork on the walls. The floor is concrete, and a black and red rug is in the foreground.
An art gallery with a blue floral rug, a large brown statue, and vibrant paintings on white walls. A doorway leads outside where trees are visible.
Wall with colorful paintings hanging in an art gallery, showing various scenes and characters, with one large painting featuring trees and unicorns.
A colorful, abstract sculpture resembling a face with cloud patterns painted in blue, orange, cream, and black, titled 'Clouds' from 2026, made of paper mache, cardboard, plaster, and acrylic, displayed on a wall.
Painting of a park scene with multiple women and girls engaging in various activities, surrounded by trees and greenery, with a yellow sky in the background.
Part of an art gallery wall with two paintings, one large and detailed landscape, and a smaller one with figures, visible through an doorway with a metal frame.
Two paintings are displayed on white walls inside an art gallery. The left painting shows a vibrant scene with people in a yellow-green forest, and the right painting depicts an interior scene with women in a living room.
Art gallery interior with framed paintings on white walls and a mask sculpture hanging above an opening in the wall. The floor is concrete.
Four paintings on a white gallery wall, each depicting women in various settings with vibrant red backgrounds.
A vibrant painting depicting women gathering in a farm setting with trees, chickens, and a white truck. The scene includes women picking fruit from trees, sitting on the grass, and engaging in various activities, all set against a pinkish-red sky.
A painting featuring women holding guns, depicted in a stylized, abstract manner with predominantly red and dark tones.
Painting of three girls with guns, in a red and black color palette. Two girls are aiming rifles and one girl is kneeling with a rifle. The background features a heart-shaped motif and abstract brush strokes.
Two women sitting in a room with art on the walls, one is speaking into a microphone and the other is listening, with drinks and papers on a small table in front of them.
Art gallery wall displaying multiple colorful paintings of various styles and subjects.
A detailed painting depicting a whimsical forest scene with people, animals, and various fantastical elements, including a woman with a crown, a unicorn, mushrooms, and a circus tent in the background.
Two small, handcrafted ceramic houses with textured roofs, one blue and one yellowish-green, displayed on a black platform, with artwork and a woman visible in the background at an art gallery.
Table displaying various colorful fantasy-themed illustrations, including mythical creatures, fantasy figures, and imaginative scenes.
Gallery with two paintings on a white wall, a dark blue floral rug in the foreground, and a statue partially visible on the right side, draped in a brown fabric.
Art gallery wall featuring various paintings, including a portrait with long hair and a colorful artwork of a bird, with a concrete floor and a corner dividing the room.
A colorful painting depicting a forest scene with trees, a woman riding a stool, a woman holding a basket of oranges, several horses, and a woman sitting on the ground with a horse. The background features pinkish-red trees and lush green foliage.
An art gallery with white walls displaying various paintings. The floor is concrete, and a colorful rug with floral patterns is partially visible at the bottom of the image. There is a large black frame on the left wall containing multiple small port
An art gallery inside a rustic building with white walls, artwork on display, and concrete floor. There is a pedestal with miniature models of houses and a wall-mounted sculpture of a face on the left.
Three colorful paintings hanging on a textured white wall in an art gallery.
A digital screen displaying artwork and text in an art gallery with a dark floor, a white wall, and a wooden ceiling.
Gallery wall with multiple paintings of various styles and subjects, displayed on a textured white wall inside an art gallery.
An art gallery wall displaying several colorful paintings with tree and human figures in an outdoor setting. Part of a patterned rug is visible on the floor in front of the wall.
A presentation slide about the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz" showing a scene with characters from the film and descriptive text.
Photo of an art gallery interior with two paintings on white walls. The floor is concrete and appears worn.
Gallery wall with multiple colorful pop art portraits of women, each with labels beneath, on a white exhibition wall.
A painting of an interior scene with a window showing an autumn scene outside, a potted plant with orange leaves inside, a yellow lamp on a bedside table, a framed picture and an oval mirror on the blue wall, and a tabby cat lying on a bed.
Multiple paintings displayed on a white gallery wall, featuring women in various settings with a prominent red background in some artworks.
Display screen showing black and white images of women with punk style hair and makeup, with text indicating their names as Sue Catwoman and Siouxie Sioux.