Black, White, & Shades of Gray Show

2026

Aug 4

About

The Black, White, and Shades of Gray show offered artists an opportunity to work in an achromatic approach to making art. It strips away color to focus entirely on light, shadow, texture, form, and emotional contrast. Directs full viewer attention to composition, line work, and structure without color distraction. Drawing, Painting, Photography, Sculpture, and Mixed Mediums were shown.

Juror’s Show Statement

Black, white, and gray is a limit. A constraint to bump against. This could be seen as just a somber palette; yet, the scaling of blacks to whites is what conjures depth. Grays transformed into something weird and wonderful.

What the contributed pieces lacked in color was more than made up for in whimsy. I looked for technical aspects, the tightness and necessity of the values chosen; but also, sought out the readiness of the works to show their character. This is a playful, personable show. Whimsical but still sober. All displayed pieces to me feel like free-wheeling exercises, removing the factor of color forces greater exploration into shape and composition. The accepted works played with these in spades, yielding storied pieces that hold worlds and figures just beyond their clay, felt, or canvases.

– Aubrey Davis

Award Winners

Best of Show

“IT’S DARK AND HELL IS HOT”

JAX FOSTER

“Elegant, effective, amazing use of skill. The size of the piece, composition and brushwork scream confidence. The work is self-assured and captivating with a subject and title that tells a quiet story.”

First Place

“SISTERS”

RICK CONMAY

“The technique is phenomenal. Really shines in composition and shape. The focus on body and pose over faces, is a captivating choice. Square paper and frame are compelling and unique. Awesome negative space.”

Second Place

“PALMS”

EVA YARGER

“Deceptively simple. It’s harder to be loose and trust shape and texture than not. Phenomenal use of value, extremes of light and dark with just two strong grays is excellent. Well done!”