Artists on the Rise

“Artists On The Rise'' spotlights a group of exceptionally talented and award-winning artists gaining national recognition through prestigious painting competitions. Among them, Paul Batch captivates audiences with his evocative atmospheric landscapes. Paul Beebe, Susan Jositas and Jeanne Rosier Smith's luminous marine and seascape paintings have toured with with the American Society of Marine Artists' National Museum Tour Exhibitions. In 2023 Jeanne Rosier Smith attained both the titles of  Eminent Pastelist with the International Association of Pastel Societies, and Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America. She has won a Prix de Pastel and Gold Medals in major national juries shows as well as two First Place Prizes in the Top 100 Pastel Competitions. Zufar Bikbov, blending realism and impressionism, has received numerous Plein Air awards including the Hudson Valley Art Association Gold Medal Award and recent Top Awards at Plein Air Easton including Best Nocturne and First Place Award in Quick Draw, and Best Use of Light Award at the Gloucester Plein Air Art Festival, Gloucester, VA. Neal Hughes's masterful plein air paintings have been awarded three Best of Show awards and First Place Modern Impressionist Magazine Salon Award, and Best Seascape Award this year alone. Neal is also represented in the New Britain Museum of American Art's permanent collection. Jim Laurino has developed a bold representational style blending impressionist influences with contemporary realism. Recent accolades include Second Place at the Gloucester Arts Festival, 2024, Top Prize at the Granby Land Trust Show, 2023, and First Place at the Hudson Valley Plein Air Festival, in 2022. Deborah Quinn Munson's pastel paintings have earned Best in Show honors in major juried competitions including the Prix de Pastel. She is a Master Pastelist in the Pastel Society of America and a Master in the International Association of Pastel Societies. Realist Kelly Birkenruth is classically trained and has exhibited nationally and internationally, including the Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona, Spain, Mystic Museum of Art, Rockwell Museum, and New Britain Museum of American Art. She has won awards from Art Renewal Center, Salmagundi Club, American Women Artists, and Portrait Society of America. Christina Grace Mastrangelo, a classical realist painter, has been named one of “Five Artists to Watch'' by Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine. Andrew Sjodin, trained at The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts in Minneapolis, has recently been recognized with awards from Studio Pintura and the Art Renewal Center International Salon. Vincent Giarrano paints the modern, urban female and the beauty, vibe and reality of life he sees and feel in New York City. His SoHo streets, and classic and modern NYC interiors have been included in exhibitions at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, the Butler Institute of American Art, and BP International. In 2024, Timothy Rees won the prestigious First Place award from the International Art of the Portrait Competition for “Her Mother’s Locket. Last year, Kyle Stuckey was awarded a Portraiture Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America, 30th Annual National Juried Exhibition, and is best known for his impressionistic realism landscapes and portraits. Laura Westlake's whimsical, nature-inspired works with a focus on birds have received significant accolades. This impressive collection of artists showcases the diversity and talent of those making waves in contemporary painting today.

Participating artists include Paul Batch, Paul Beebe, Zufar Bikbov, Kelly Birkenruth, Vincent Giarrano, Neal Hughes, Susan Jositas, Jim Laurino, Christina Mastrangelo, Deborah Quinn-Munson, Timothy Rees, Andrew Sjodin, Jeanne Rosier Smith, Kyle Stuckey, and Laura Westlake.

There will be a painting demostration by Zufar Bikbov from 4-5 pm in the gallery garden on Friday, August 23.  Please bring a lawn chair. The event is free. 

Opening Reception on Friday, August 23, 2024, from 5-8 pm.

Please check back frequently as we'll be adding images weekly.