In Loving Memory of my Childhood

FEBRUARY 16 – MARCH 7, 2026

Artist Talk: February 19 from 5-6PM, Hanes Gallery

Reception: February 19 from 6-7pm, stArt Gallery

stArt.rv, 122A Reynolda Village

In Loving Memory of my Childhood is an exhibition of works created by Riley Phillips.

From the artist:

In Loving Memory of my Childhood is inspired by a longing for childhood whimsy and a renewed engagement with my early interests at a moment when adulthood feels especially loud and inescapable. The body of work reflects the tension of being at an age somewhere between girlhood and “adulthood,” coming to terms with aging while mourning the loss of childhood innocence. My attempts to return to childlike play and silliness are inevitably shaped by adult awareness, responsibilities, and emotions like anger, insecurity, and burnout. Rather than a true return to childhood, the collection functions more as a eulogy: acknowledging that innocence cannot be fully reclaimed once politics, aging, and lived experience strip away rose-colored lenses.

Riley Phillips (‘21) is the Director of Social Media at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she oversees content for the University’s flagship social media accounts and reaches over 1.5 million followers. In addition to her role at UNC, she runs a vintage clothing business, Finders Keepers (@finderskeeperspod), which she plans to scale to a full-time, brick-and-mortar shop in the Raleigh-area. Riley is a former stArt Gallery Manager and received her BA in Studio Art and German with a minor in Art History. She intended to pursue a career in gallery or museum curation before finding a natural skill for communications while managing the stArt Gallery’s digital channels. Her social media work has since been recognized by the Washington Post, Times Higher Ed, and the Drew Barrymore Show. Riley is currently based in Durham, NC.