A new art installation titled "The Power of Programming" by local mixed-media artist Aort Reed premiered at CANDL Fine Art Gallery in downtown Augusta, drawing a large crowd at its opening reception. The exhibit features 18 paintings created between 2019 and 2026, with abstract, evocative works such as "Existential Empiricism" and "Totalitarianism." Reed, an Augusta native and Augusta University alumnus, describes his creative process as intuitive and subconscious, allowing viewers to find their own meanings in the pieces. The show runs through July 7 at 1128 Broad Street.
This exhibition matters because it highlights the vibrant local art scene in Augusta and the work of a homegrown artist whose pieces are already visible around the city, including at the Georgia Cyber Center and Jackie M’s & Sons. By engaging the community with thought-provoking themes about societal programming, Reed’s show underscores the role of regional galleries like CANDL in fostering dialogue between artists and the public, and in supporting emerging talent outside major art hubs.