The article is a table of contents for the February 2026 issue of the Contemporary Art Review LA, listing its featured articles, interviews, dealer profiles, and exhibition reviews. The content covers a wide range of subjects including olfactory art, tarot art, the Made in L.A. 2025 biennial, video art, and reviews of shows at various Los Angeles galleries and museums like MOCA, the Orange County Museum of Art, and Château Shatto.
The UCF Art Gallery has debuted "The Rooms We Build," the 2026 Master of Fine Arts thesis exhibition featuring the work of six graduating studio art and design students. The showcase includes a diverse array of mediums such as sculpture, welding, woodworking, digital animation, and collaborative murals. Each artist presents a distinct "universe," ranging from explorations of queer masculinity and Jungian archetypes to the intersection of digital fandoms and traditional painting.
Pittsburgh’s art scene is set for a diverse series of openings this March, ranging from historical sports photography to contemporary textile art. Highlights include Michael Zagaris’s 60-year retrospective of NFL photography at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, the first U.S. solo exhibition for English photographer Ajamu X at Silver Eye Center for Photography, and solo shows by Nicole Renee Ryan and Abby Franzen-Sheehan. The month also features collaborative exhibitions like "What We Carry," which pairs Penny Mateer’s political quilts with Dante Campudoni’s psychological paintings.
The AOY Art Center in Yardley, Pennsylvania, is launching its 14th annual Juried Show, featuring 137 selected works from over 425 regional submissions. Curated by Amanda C. Burdan of the Brandywine Museum of Art, the exhibition spans various mediums including painting, sculpture, and photography. The show opens April 10 with a public reception and includes specialized honors such as the Frumi Cohen memorial award for wildlife art.
The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls, New York, is launching its 35th annual High School Juried Art Show on April 18, 2026. This year’s exhibition features 136 selected works from over 440 submissions, representing student artists from 18 regional school districts across five counties. A panel of professional jurors, including ceramicist Ava Tesoriero, painter Katie Langford, and fiber artist Joy Muller-McCoola, curated the selection which spans mediums from digital illustration to sculpture.
Graduating students from the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO) are launching their annual year-end exhibition, titled "Odds and Ends." The showcase features a diverse array of works from Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Media Studies students, spanning traditional mediums like painting and sculpture to digital media, game design, and immersive art. The exhibition is the result of a year-long collaborative effort between the two programs, culminating in a public showcase held at the Creative and Critical Studies Building.
Jag Gallery in Key West has announced an open call for its 7th annual "Poolside" juried exhibition, seeking 2D and 3D original artwork with swimming pools as the subject. The show opens with a reception on August 5, and selected artists will be notified by July 12, with an entry fee of $35 per artwork and a 50/50 commission split. The article also highlights current shows at other local Key West venues: Harrison Gallery is featuring vibrant paintings by Santa Fe artist Melinda K. Hall, Shade Ceramics and Shutter Photography is displaying pottery by Mark Klammer and landscape photography by Sarah Carleton, and it notes the legacy of the late textile artist Suzie dePoo.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Crossman Gallery recently hosted the BA & BSE Senior Show, a showcase of diverse artworks created by graduating students. The exhibition featured a wide range of mediums, including photography, painting, sculpture, and print design, highlighting the creative versatility of the senior class. The event served as a professional milestone for students, allowing them to navigate the gallery submission process and network with faculty and the community.
The Fullerton Museum Center has launched "OC Made," a new biennial juried exhibition dedicated exclusively to artists living and working in Orange County. Curated by Georgette Collard and Jasmine McNeal, the inaugural show features over 130 artworks by more than 100 local artists selected from a pool of 260 submissions. The exhibition includes a diverse range of mediums, from glass sculptures and ceramics to photorealistic paintings of local landmarks, and awarded top honors to artists Ramón Vargas, Jaime “Germs” Zacarias, and Mahta Jafari.
The Bennington Museum recently hosted its 2026 Annual Student Art Show, an event featuring works from local students ranging from kindergarten to high school seniors. The exhibition showcased a diverse array of mediums, including watercolor, ceramics, and mixed-media self-portraits, while offering free admission and family-oriented activities to the community.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art's 49th Contemporary Craft Show is taking place this weekend at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Center City. The event features 195 artists, including 41 newcomers, showcasing one-of-a-kind works across mediums such as fashion, jewelry, furniture, weaving, glass, and woodworking. Artists retain 100% of all sales, and attendees can connect directly with creators like collage weaver Galen Gibson-Cornell and others from across the country.
Laredo College has opened submissions for its 'Out of the Box' juried art exhibit, inviting local artists to submit unconventional, experimental, and bold works across all mediums. The submission period runs from December 29 to January 16, with artist notifications on January 20, and an opening reception scheduled for February 6 at the Martha Fenstermaker Memorial Visual Arts Gallery. Up to 30 artworks will be selected for the final show.
Chester County, Pennsylvania, is home to a vibrant community of artists working across mediums like acrylic paint, watercolors, sculpture, and furniture. The article highlights five local art galleries—Church Street Gallery, Diving Cat Studio Gallery, Square Pear Fine Art Gallery, Sugartown Art and Antiques, and Werring Contemporary—each offering unique exhibitions, classes, and opportunities to purchase original works. It also promotes the upcoming Chester County Studio Tour, an annual event taking place May 16, where artists open their studios to the public.
The Tarble Arts Center hosted the opening reception for the 2026 Master of Arts in Studio Art Exhibition, featuring thesis projects from 11 graduate students. The exhibition showcased a diverse range of mediums, including an immersive installation by Vitória Kazanovski that recreated her grandmother’s Brazilian kitchen using audio and textured cookbooks, and a ceramic series by Wendy Peters that highlighted the technical mistakes and evolution of her craft.
The group exhibition ‘Bándearg’ (Pink) is set to open at Books At One in Louisburgh, County Mayo, featuring the work of five female artists based in Ireland. The show explores the color pink as both a physical medium and a complex cultural symbol, showcasing a diverse range of artistic approaches including the bold, hard-edge op art of Elphin-based artist Nickie Harrington.
Art House Gallery in Jersey City is set to host "Expanded Metamorphosis: Contemporary Approaches to Process," a group exhibition curated by Andrea McKenna. Running from April 4 to April 26, 2026, the show features ten artists—including Jan Huling, Valerie Huhn, and Dan Payton—who utilize industrial, organic, and repurposed materials. The collection emphasizes the physical act of creation, showcasing works that have been shaped through rigorous methods of alteration, accumulation, and construction.
Thirty-five fiber artists from the Southern California/Nevada region of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) are showcasing their work in the exhibition “Beyond the Canvas” at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. The exhibition features a diverse range of styles, including abstract designs, landscapes, and representational pieces, all created using fabric and thread rather than traditional paint or clay. Featured artists such as Kathleen McCabe, Mary Tabar, and Kathy Piper demonstrate the versatility of the medium through works that range from hand-dyed cotton abstracts to nature-inspired imagery.
The Tar River Art Gallery in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, is hosting a winter exhibit opening and public reception on February 22, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Dunn Center on the campus of North Carolina Wesleyan University. The exhibition features works from over 40 regional artists, including paintings, watercolors, pen-and-ink works, collages, assemblages, ceramic sculpture, metal art, fused glass, and handcrafted jewelry. The event is free and open to the public, with light refreshments and opportunities to meet the artists. The gallery builds on the legacy of the former Gravely Gallery, honoring Janice Gravely, and now offers expanded space for a broader range of mediums.
The Association of Student Artists is hosting its 32nd annual exhibition, titled “Among the Stars,” at Kingsford High School. The event showcases over 600 artworks from students across nine regional school districts, featuring a diverse range of mediums including oil painting, sculpture, digital art, and metal smithing. The program includes a public viewing, an awards ceremony for Merit and Best in Show honors, and portfolio reviews conducted by representatives from several major regional universities.
Six high school students from Ohio's Mahoning Valley, representing Canfield and LaBrae high schools, have been selected to showcase their work in the 2026 Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition. Out of nearly 6,000 statewide submissions, pieces by students including Mia Tisone, Zoe Dillinger, and Truly Jacops were named among the top 300 in the state. Their artworks will be displayed at the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus from April 12 through May 15, while additional works will appear in a digital "cameo" exhibition.
Ceramicists Savannah Jacob and Abby Jo Elle are co-curating "Respect Your Mother," a group exhibition at Patina Gallery dedicated to climate change and environmental activism. Opening in honor of Earth Day, the show features works from over 50 artists across various mediums, including sculptures, collages, and paintings, with a strict prohibition on artificial intelligence to emphasize human-centric craft.
Brooklyn-based painter Kelly Ahern is set to debut a one-night solo exhibition titled 'Surface Tension' at the Bushwick Gallery on April 14, 2026. The show is part of the gallery’s 'Solo Statement' program, specifically the series 'Doesn't Play Well with Others,' which grants artists total creative autonomy to curate and present their work. The exhibition will feature Ahern's latest abstract compositions and conceptual pieces, focusing on her unique approach to the medium of painting.
Central Oregon’s art scene is hosting a diverse array of exhibitions this week across Bend, Sisters, Sunriver, and Redmond. Notable highlights include Jana Charl’s mixed-media showcase "This is not a Love Story" at Art Adventure Gallery, Hilary Baker’s moth-themed "Prophets" at the High Desert Museum, and a collection of literary-inspired quilts at the Deschutes Historical Museum. The offerings span various mediums, from nomadic woven macramé and custom jewelry to volcanic science explorations and historic cartography.
The Elk Grove Fine Arts Center has announced its upcoming April programming, headlined by the Gallery Artist Studio Collection exhibition running from April 4 to 29. This showcase features work from over 20 local artists across various mediums, including painting, sculpture, and ceramics, offered at studio prices. Additionally, the center will host the Fifth Annual Elk Grove Festival of the Arts on April 25 at Old Town Plaza, featuring over 40 vendors and a dedicated showcase for student artwork.
Northwest Missouri State University has unveiled "Art Left Behind: Exploring Decades of Creativity," an exhibition featuring student artworks discovered in the storage rooms of the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building. Curated by students Brooke Reyes, Jeri Walters, and Sammy Ward, the show presents a selection of prints dating from the late 1960s to the present day. The collection largely consists of works created under the guidance of former professor Phil Laber, ranging from abstract compositions to social and political commentaries.
The Hope Art Machine is set to launch its annual exhibition, "Retrospective 17," running from March 1 to March 27 across two venues: the Hope Art Gallery and the Blue Moose Coffee House. The showcase features diverse works from over 20 artists, including teachers and students, spanning mediums such as ceramics, watercolors, acrylics, and paper art. An opening reception is scheduled for March 7, providing a platform for the community to engage with local creators and learn about the studio's educational offerings.
The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture, in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission, has announced an open call for local artists to submit works for "Post-Wild: Nature in the 21st Century," a juried exhibition at the Betteravia Art Gallery in Santa Maria. The online submission window runs from January 19 to February 15, 2026, with no application fee; selected artists will be notified in early March, and a public opening reception is scheduled for May 21. The exhibition seeks small-format works across mediums—including traditional and digital art, photography, and conceptual pieces—that address themes of environmental change, urbanization, and human impact on natural spaces.
A new gallery called Hanover Creative has opened in Trenton, New Jersey, with its debut exhibition "Fiber Politic." The show, curated by Áine Mickey, features the work of five textile artists, including Patricia Dahlman and the artist known as Woolpunk, and runs from March 21 to April 25. The gallery represents a significant step for Trenton's art scene, which has historically lacked independent exhibition spaces for its many talented artists.
The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County has launched "Kinetic Energy: A Celebration of Sport in Palm Beach County," a multi-media exhibition timed to coincide with the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. Featuring 14 local artists, the show explores the intersection of athletics and artistry through diverse mediums including upcycled sculpture by Mike Silverman, realistic portraiture by Anna Villa, and a painting of soccer star Lionel Messi by Kyle Lucks.
Stained glass artists Kurt and Lorraine Wendling have officially opened The Gallery on Gambier in downtown Mount Vernon, Ohio. The new creative hub serves as the permanent home for their business, Wendling Glass Creations, while also showcasing the work of approximately 20 other artists specializing in mediums ranging from photography to oil painting. The space is designed as a multi-functional venue, incorporating a retail gallery, a custom framing center, and a dedicated classroom for art instruction.