The Ardsley Art Commission is presenting a unique exhibition featuring the works of mother-and-son artists Valda Hancock Wagner and Rich Wagner, spanning 75 years of artistic creation. The show includes oil and acrylic paintings, watercolors, drawings, etchings, and wood block prints, ranging from traditional realism to abstraction. Valda studied with notable artists such as Reginald Marsh, Robert Rauschenberg, and Robert Beverly Hale, and later taught art in inner-city New York. Rich studied at the Art Students League, the Royal Academy of Arts, and the Royal Drawing School, and has participated in over 80 exhibitions. The exhibition is on view at Ardsley Village Hall through October 1.
This exhibition matters because it highlights the intergenerational artistic dialogue between a mother and son, reflecting both personal narratives and broader shifts in modern life and art styles over 75 years. It also underscores the role of local community spaces, like Ardsley Village Hall, in fostering and showcasing regional artistic talent, making art accessible to the public outside major metropolitan centers.