Pro Arts Jersey City presents "A Margin of Influence: Artists and the books that inform them" at ART150 Gallery from May 8-31, 2026. Curated by Raymond E. Mingst and Arthur Bruso, the group exhibition features ten artists—including Agnieszka Wszolkowska, Alvin Quiñones, Brad Terhune, Dorie Dahlberg, Elliot Appel, Hank Yaghooti, Josephine Barreiro, Laura Lou Levy, Nanette Reynolds Beachner, and Peter Delman—who explore how books shape their creative practice. The show runs weekends with an opening reception on May 8.
The exhibition matters because it shifts focus from art that illustrates literature to the deeper intellectual and emotional relationships artists have with texts—fiction, poetry, theory, history, or philosophy. By revealing the research and inspiration behind artworks, the show highlights the often invisible dialogue between visual art and written word, offering a nuanced perspective on artistic process. It also underscores the role of local non-profit spaces like Pro Arts Jersey City in fostering community engagement with contemporary art.