Tucked along Germantown Ave., an exhibit inside a sunlit gallery asks visitors to reflect on a simple yet radical question: What does it mean for Black communities to embrace softness, rest, and joy in a city that often demands survival first?

That social dialogue sits at the center of “Soft Life,” an exhibition by visual artists Keshida Layone and Oronde Kairi.

Hosted at City Arts Salon at 5838 Germantown Ave., the exhibition uses visual art to challenge conventional ideas about healing and creative freedom within Black communities. Both artists offer distinct interpretations of identity, self-preservation, and emotional well-being.

Rather than treating the “soft life” as an internet trend or aesthetic, Layone and Kairi explore what softness looks like in practice for Black artists living and working in Philadelphia.

A 2023 Essence article by psychotherapist Meghan Watson described it as a life marked by tenderness, vulnerability, slow living, intentionality, ritual, and purpose. It mentions seeing it as a way of being rather than an achievement to unlock, and that #softliving is more of a mindset than a fad.

Oronde Kairi was born and raised in Philadelphia, spending much of his life in Mt. Airy. Today, he works out of his studio in Germantown. For Kairi, exhibiting at City Arts Salon is deeply personal and tied to his childhood.

“I went to the YMCA camp on Greene Street,” Kairi said. “Being at this particular gallery is like being at home. It’s like a homecoming.”

The inspiration behind Kairi’s work stems from Philadelphia’s vibrant graffiti culture of the 1980s. 

He says one of the most rewarding aspects of being a visual artist has been the lifelong process of developing his craft, which he says he started taking seriously in the mid 1990s.

“I didn’t have fundamentals, and that’s what I was trying to get,” Kairi said. “From 95 to 2001 was me developing my skills formally in art school. I spent a while just to get to this level where I’m at.”

Owner of Breathe Art, Keshida Layone, has been creating and exhibiting artwork for more than 15 years. For him, “Soft Life” represents love, happiness, acceptance, and joy.

Born in Long Island, New York, Layone moved to Philly in 2016. After building some local presence, he previously exhibited at City Arts Salon in 2018 and at Germantown ArtHaus in 2025.

Through his paintings, Layone seeks to evoke feelings of euphoria and peace. One featured work in the collection, “Distraction,” explores the difference between harmful distractions and restorative ones.

“Distractions are things that take us away from what I just mentioned, but you can also have a good distraction,” Layone said. “A good distraction is some of those elements: taking long walks, listening to music, staring at the clouds — honestly looking at the clouds until they turn into something.”

The inspiration for naming the exhibit Soft Life originates from Keshida Layone’s recent body of work centered on a Black family, “The Softy Family,” imagined with hair made of ice cream — an intentional symbol.

Layone’s vision rejects narratives rooted solely in struggle, instead focusing on love, loyalty, and the quiet euphoria of simply being.

“I love the idea of showing a Black family living a soft life. Many narratives exhibit the Black experience as hard with rough edges,” says Layone. “The truth is we are soft, sensitive, brilliant people. These traits have been taken for granted, and we had to grow a hard exterior to protect the softest part… our heart.”

Oronde’s piece “Glide” represents Soft Life in that it embodies intentional freedom and joy. In the painting, the figure is moving forward with confidence and ease, fully immersed in the moment.

“To me, soft life isn’t about escaping challenges — it’s about choosing peace, happiness, and personal freedom regardless of the circumstances,” says Kairi. “Glide captures that feeling perfectly.”

Since opening in 2011, City Arts Salon has sought to prioritize accessible exhibitions and provide space for meaningful dialogue between artists, collectors, and community members. Owner and founder Kenny White said the original vision was to create a space that would give artists opportunities to exhibit their work in a setting that resembled a professional gallery.

“Soft Life” came together after Kairi reached out about the possibility of showing at City Arts Salon.

“I had always wanted to show Oronde’s work, but we had never connected until he reached out to me about a year and a half ago to talk about exhibiting here,” White explained.

“Keshida had previously shown at City Arts Salon in 2018, and I had been wanting to work with him again. I ended up bringing the two of them together because I really appreciate the way both artists approach their work.”

City Arts has welcomed artists from across Philly and beyond. However, in recent years, many of the featured artists have come from Germantown and surrounding neighborhoods, reflecting White’s commitment to elevating local creative voices.

“There’s a need to support emerging artists… My goal is to try to present artists to audiences that would ordinarily not have the opportunity to meet them. It’s about the connection. That is the reason people purchase art,” he said.

“Soft Life” will remain on view through June 28, ending with a closing reception that will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. on the closing date. Visitors can also attend an artist talk featuring Layone and Kairi on Saturday, June 6, from 2–5 p.m., with the convo starting at 3 p.m., at City Arts Salon.

Shanayah Wyche is a Philly-born educator and community organizer. She primarily reports on stories surrounding art, culture, and civic politics.