The Hunterdon Art Museum in New Jersey will open three new exhibitions on May 17, 2025. The shows include a solo exhibition of figurative painter Emily Strong, featuring large-scale realist oil paintings that explore identity and relationships; “Claybash,” the museum’s second triennial juried ceramics exhibition curated by Angelik Vizcarrondo-Laboy; and “Mindscapes,” a retrospective of 60 years of work by 93-year-old New Jersey artist Bascha Mon, whose recent pieces are inspired by the music of composer Olivier Messiaen.
These exhibitions highlight the museum’s commitment to showcasing both emerging and established artists across diverse media, from painting to ceramics. The inclusion of a juried ceramics competition and a career-spanning retrospective underscores the institution’s role in supporting regional talent and fostering dialogue between contemporary craft and fine art. The shows also demonstrate how artists like Strong and Mon use personal narrative and sensory inspiration—such as music—to create deeply introspective works.