The Art Gallery at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa presents "Interisland: New Paintings from New York & Hawaiʻi," a survey exhibition running from August 31 to December 7, 2025. Featuring approximately 40 painters from New York City and Hawaiʻi, the show explores commonalities and differences in contemporary painting across these geographically distant regions. Curated by Liam Davis, Jan Dickey, and Debra Drexler, the exhibition marks the ten-year anniversary of "New New York: Abstract Painting in the 21st Century" and includes a spectrum of representational and nonrepresentational works from artists such as Cody Anderson, Kiko Bordeos, and Clare Grill.
The exhibition matters because it positions two distinct creative hubs—New York and Hawaiʻi—in direct dialogue, offering a timely examination of cultural temperature in an era of digital interconnection and heightened appreciation for diverse cultural inheritances. By bringing together artists from opposite sides of the U.S., "Interisland" fosters critical conversations about painting conventions, personal expression, and the relevance of regional artistic legacies in a globalized art world.