ART OPENING - MICHELE MIKESELL & SHAWN SMITH
M.A. Doran Gallery is looking forward to presenting our two upcoming exhibitions featuring new works by Michele Mikesell and formally introducing the work of Shawn Smith. The exhibits opens April 2, and continues through May 1, 2026. Mikesell examines idioms and phrases that are used in various countries in her paintings. Shawn Smith is exploring the intersection of the digital world and reality in his sculpture. Please join us for the opening reception on Thursday, April 2, 2026 from 5:00 – 7:30 PM. Shawn Smith will be present for the opening. Lite bites and refreshments will be provided. Valet parking is available in back.
Hell or High Water by Michele Mikesell is a new body of work that explores idioms from various regions in the world. In these paintings, Mikesell offers a playful look into her own visual interpretation of these cultural phrases. She has taken the idioms and made a literal visual translation. She creates unexpected images because they are symbolic of the words in the idiom, but not representative of their true meaning.
Almost Animal is the official introduction of artwork by Shawn Smith. Smith investigates the intersection between the digital world and reality with his three-dimensional, pixelated animal sculptures. He is interested in how we experience much of the natural world through our phones and digital media. These labor-intensive sculptures made from individual "pixel" blocks of wood are meant to contrast with the speed of the digital world. For Smith, he likens the pixels playing an important role in the identity of the sculpture to each cell playing a vital role in an organism. This show compliments the new and exceptional exhibition of Smith’s work at 108 Contemporary.
Event Links
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3544910-0
