July – August 2026 Exhibits<\/h2>\n
Join us on July 24, 2026, from 6\u20138 p.m. at Art Works for the opening reception of our new exhibits!<\/p>\n
Meet our featured artists, enjoy live music, and savor refreshments and libations sponsored by RVA Thriving Artists. Step into Sacred Queerness: Nature, Spirituality, and the Queer Experience<\/em> in the main gallery \u2014 a powerful exhibition benefiting Virginia Pride through sales from this show.<\/p>\n Also on view: solo exhibitions by T. Parker, Justin White, Heather McCoy, and Mandy Powell, the Community Bridge Project, and a brand-new All Media Show highlighting local talent.<\/p>\n This event is free and open to the public. Convenient and free parking is available. The exhibits will continue through August 22, 2026. Sacred Queerness: Nature, Spirituality, and the Queer Experience continues through September 19, 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div> Sacred Queerness<\/em> is an installation that transforms nature into both a real environment and a place of queer possibility. Inspired by Thoreau\u2019s Walden and the way time in the woods can change us, the show welcomes visitors into a forest-garden setting filled with art and interactive elements. Here, themes like transition, androgyny, and fluid identity come to life through creative expression.<\/p>\n At its core, the exhibition asks: Is nature really binary? The artists involved build spaces that celebrate resilience and community, showing the many ways queer people connect with, interpret, and reshape both the natural world and the spiritual one.<\/p>\n The exhibition will be in the Jane Sandelin Gallery at Art Works and will continue through September 19, 2026, and will benefit Virginia Pride through sales from this show.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Painting by Zach Barnard<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> T. Parker is a storyteller deeply intrigued by human behavior. Each project begins with careful observation\u2014studying subjects through their body language, clothing, the rhythm of their surroundings, and the authenticity of their experiences. Through paint, clay, and collage, Parker translates these impressions into visual form.<\/p>\n The exhibit will be in the Port I Gallery at Art Works through August 22, 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Justin\u00a0White is a visual artist from Chesapeake, Virginia. A 2006 graduate of William & Mary with degrees in Art and English, he has built a focused studio practice recognized in national portrait, figure, and open competitions, as well as through publication features. Justin White approaches portraiture as an act of creation, blending realism with imagination. His detailed paintings capture the individuality of his subjects while placing them in surreal, story-rich settings that invite viewers to see beyond likeness into the spirit of each person.<\/p>\n The exhibit will be in the Port II Gallery at Art Works through August 22, 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Journey of Resilience reflects Mandy Powell\u2019s belief in art as a path to healing and renewal. Through layers of color, texture, and mixed media, she translates personal experiences of loss, illness, and recovery into visual form. Her paintings celebrate strength, gratitude, and the human capacity to find light in challenging times, inviting viewers to connect through shared emotions and hope.<\/p>\n The exhibit will be in the Corner Gallery at Art Works through August 22, 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Heather McCoy is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative path has moved from illustration to sculpture and finally to the expressive craft of pyrography. Drawn to the challenge of \u201cdrawing with fire,\u201d she works with both the fine detail of a pyrography pen and the bold use of negative space on large wooden surfaces. By burning away background to reveal smooth forms against textured grain, she creates pieces meant to engage both the eye and the hand. Her inspiration comes from a love of strong design, pattern, and a touch of playful irreverence, sparked by everything from old wallpapers and nature guides to archaeological motifs or a single memorable phrase.<\/p>\n The exhibit will be in the Corner Gallery at Art Works through August 22, 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> RVA Thriving Artists is excited to welcome a new artist to the Community Bridge Project. Emerging artists from Central Virginia\u2014including those from underserved and marginalized communities, are encouraged to submit their proposals through the online application form. Selected artists will receive free exhibit space in the upstairs Bridge Project gallery at Art Works, along with mentorship and educational support. The program provides guidance on developing a theme, creating a cohesive body of work, preparing for exhibition, and promoting the show.<\/p>\nSacred Queerness: Nature, Spirituality and the Queer Experience <\/em><\/h4>\n<\/div>
![](\"https:\/\/artworksrva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PR-2026.07-Queer-Show-Sacred-Zach-Barnard-300x298.jpg\" "\\"PR")
<\/span><\/div>This is What I see<\/em> by T. Parker<\/h4>\n<\/div>
![](\"https:\/\/artworksrva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PR-2026.07-T-Parker-liberty-31-215x300.jpg\" "\\"PR")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Face Value<\/em> by Justin White<\/h4>\n<\/div>
![](\"https:\/\/artworksrva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PR-2026.07-Justin-White-Raj-rhino-300x149.jpg\" "\\"PR")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Journey of Resilience<\/em> by Mandy Powell<\/h4>\n<\/div>
![](\"https:\/\/artworksrva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PR-2026.07-Mandy-Powell-220x300.jpg\" "\\"PR")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Facets of Fire<\/em> by Heather McCoy<\/h4>\n<\/div>
![](\"https:\/\/artworksrva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/PR-2026.07-Heather-McCoy--300x276.jpg\" "\\"PR")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>The Bridge Project<\/h4>\n<\/div>
![](\"https:\/\/artworksrva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/RVA-TA-Logo-Website-300x225.png\" "\\"RVA"){kind=logo}
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/artworksrva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PR-2026-07-AMS-Pixabay-200x300.jpg\" "\\"PR")
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