The Gallery at the Ocean City Arts Center kicks off summer season with its “Annual Invitational Themed Show. This year’s theme is “In the Manner of Tamara de Lempicka”. The show opens June 2 and runs through June 27. A “Meet the Artists’ reception will be held on Friday, June 12 from 7pm to 8:30pm. The Gallery is located in the Ocean City Arts Center, 1735 Simpson Avenue, 2nd Floor, Ocean City, NJ.
The goal is to challenge invited artists to interpret the announced theme creatively — and perhaps even push beyond their usual artistic comfort zones.
This year’s theme invites artists to paint in the style of Tamara de Lempicka, widely regarded as one of the most celebrated artists of the Art Deco movement. After studying at the Saint Petersburg Academy of Arts, her early works focused primarily on still lifes and portraits.
A major turning point in her career came in 1925, when her paintings were exhibited in Paris at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts — the event that ultimately gave the Art Deco style its name (“Deco” derived from “Decorative”). Art Deco became known for its geometric forms, sleek elegance, and bold, vibrant colors.
Among de Lempicka’s most iconic works is Self-Portrait in a Green Bugatti, created for the cover of a German fashion magazine as a striking symbol of women’s independence and modernity.
The invited artists were truly inspired by the theme and rose to the challenge creating exciting and beautiful work. Among the participating artists are Bonnie Ault, Gail Beckley, Carla Brennan, Marilyn Brent, Robin Brown, Lisa Cicalese McMillen, Joanne Coffman, Merryl Cool, Linda Crane, Lolly Grilli, Maureen Gordon, Shirley Hawthorne, Rae Jaffe, Theresa Kennish, Doreen Khebzou, Dawn Kohnasky, Kokona Kouzoukas, Marion Lotka, Carole McCray, Carla Migliaccio Gloria Moyer, Chris O’Brien, Susan Rau, Barbara Rosin, Patti Smith, Ann Sudol, and, Tom Pryor.
The Ocean City Arts Center is located on the second floor in the Community Center at 1735 Simpson Avenue, Ocean City, New Jersey 08226. Hours of operation are 9am to 9pm, Monday through Friday and 9am to 3pm on Saturday. The Arts Center is closed on Sunday. For further information, call (609) 399-7628. Check out the Ocean City Arts Center on Facebook and Instagram.
This program is made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
