Flying Solo (mixed media painting on 36×36-inch wood panel) from my Baroque series was selected by the independent juror, Milan Warner, for The Art League August 2026 Open Exhibit.Exhibit Duration: August 12–September 6

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About the selected piece:

Inspired by the classical Baroque and Persian Miniatures, this follows the same attributes—contrast, movement, exuberant detail, deep color, grandeur, and surprise—within geometric and organic color fields to evoke a sense of discovery. Altered insect wings, a leaf skeleton and a female manakin are combined with architectural and tree forms to create recognizable elements in contrast with the abstract background. I leave the narrative to the viewers, but for me, this depicts a strong and influential woman, reminding me of my mother.

Mentation from my Baroque series was selected by Saul Drake, Exhibits Project Director, Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services (SITES), for the Winging It: Birds in Art exhibit at Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center (main gallery).

This marked my sixth consecutive acceptance at this prestigious venue affiliated with The Smithsonian, coinciding with the Landmark exhibit at Kay Daugherty Gallery (above the main gallery), where my other piece, Canyon I, was on display.

Duration:

June 5 (opening night)–August 23, 2026

About Mentation

Media: Layered hybrid media (pastel, acrylic, and pigment print) on watercolor paper mounted on a 24×36-inch cradled wood panel.

Concept: I am interested in the gap between the known (recognizable) and the unknown (abstract), inviting the viewer to delve into their subconscious and “finish” the painting.

Applying this philosophy to Mentation, the images of birds are deconstructed to serve as a metaphor for human cognition. By using headless, abstracted birds, the work moves away from ornithological study and toward a representation of “flying thoughts.” These avian forms symbolize the erratic and elusive nature of imagination—ideas that take flight before they are fully formed. It captures the kinetic energy of a mind in flight—a personal experience amidst work in progress, depicting my creative frenzy.

Manifest from my Baroque series was selected by the independent juror, Claude Elliot, for the Art League July 2026 Open Exhibit.

Exhibit Duration: July 8–August 2, 2026

About Manifest

Media: Layered hybrid media (watercolor, acrylic ink and pigment print) on watercolor paper mounted on a 36×24-inch cradled wood panel.

Concept: This painting combines abstract and recognizable elements to depict the transitional states of matter (gas, liquid, and solid). A male dancer is captured in mid-movement, his back arched as he appears to float in the air. Dominating the center is a translucent liquid or gel with a net formation that serves as a visual metaphor for transformation. The background features a digital collage of the artist’s ink sketches with organic and fractal marks on the left and Gothic architectural arches on the right. I combined these elements to bring the abstract into tangible forms in a dynamic theater stage, where the dancer’s grace brings to life what unfolds before him.