The Loft Artists Association (LAA) is excited to announce its 11th Annual Juried Exhibition, titled [Gasp!]. This year’s exhibition features artworks that defy expectations and provoke astonishment, particularly through their use of innovative materials. These pieces are best experienced in-person as they inspire viewers to take their time and discover the unexpected.

Visiting Juror and Independent Curator, Ellen Hawley notes, “These selected artworks elicit a spontaneous response, making us gasp with surprise when we encounter unexpected imagery or materials, such as rawhide, cow bones, Band-aids™, dice, shredded decommissioned U.S. currency, spent shotgun shells, gears, clocks, and various found objects. After examining these works, one may wonder how the choice of material informs the overall concept or design.”

The exhibition encompasses a broad range of concepts, featuring both abstract and representational artworks in 2D and 3D formats, including installations. Additionally, there will be an Artists Walk+Talk with Ellen Hawley on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 2pm.

This theme has generated significant interest, resulting in 58 accepted artists. For more details about the show, please visit www.loftartists.org, and follow us on Instagram: @loftartists. Here are the selected artists:

Joyce Andersen, Becca Barolli, Allison Belolan, Janine Brown, Dani Buch, Nik Burkhart, Miggs Burroughs, Serena Buschi, Jennie Carr, Thomas Carroll, Rosa Colon, Jaynie Crimmins, Scott Glaser, Patty Goldberg Ettinger, Roxanne Faber Savage, Johnny Face Off, Almudena Fernandez Vicens, Anne Finkelstein, Matthew Franz, John Fuchida, Laura Gatto, Joyce Grasso, Michael Johnston, Karen Kallins, Brigid Kennedy, Natalya Khorover, Margaret Koval, Christine Kwon, Tina Link, Matt Logsdon, Elizabeth Madden, Kate Mangold, Dorothy McClure, Tomo Mori-Walker, Miller Opie, Penny Pearlman, Fred Poisson, Karen Popp, George Radwan, Elizabeth Riley, Ro Robertson, Margaret Roleke, Christine Romanell, Carol Salmanson, Patrick Schmidt, Amy Schott, Kristy Schutzman, Lena Schwartz, Barbara Shapiro, Marlene Siff, Erica Stoller, Rob Strati, Emily Teal, David Verespy, Elizabeth White, Thomas Wilson, Joan Wheeler, Peter Weiss

About Ellen Hawley:
As daughter of an architect, architectural blueprint drawings, mylar, Letraset press type letters, and drafting templates were among the usual art materials for six-year-old Ellen. Today, Ellen continues to channel her passion for art and architecture through a multifaceted career. With over eight years as an independent curator, Ellen has curated exhibitions including GLOW, Home Sweet Home at the Flinn Gallery in Greenwich, CT, and Ephemeral Bloom at MAPSpace in Port Chester, NY. At Flinn Gallery, she curates, serves on the Selections Committee, manages social media, and contributes to marketing efforts. Ellen's advertising background spans blue-chip clients like AT&T, IBM, NYSE, L’Oréal in New York, and Ortega Mexican Foods, Dole Packaged Foods in Los Angeles. Her expertise spans client services, brand strategy, new business development, corporate communications, new product launches, and interfacing with creative teams to develop breakthrough multimedia campaigns. Ellen holds a BA from Syracuse University in Art History with a concentration in Architecture and a minor in Advertising. She settled in Cos Cob, CT, almost two decades ago after living in New York, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong with her young family. Her diverse experiences highlight her dedication to art curation, creative and strategic thinking in both artistic and business realms.

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