CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
The Holland Area Arts Council is home to three professional galleries: the Barbara H. Padnos Gallery, the Jane Armstrong Gallery, and the Lievense Zobkiw Galleries. Admission is free of charge.January 2025
Tactile Fiber Arts Invitational
January 10 - March 1
Padnos Gallery
Reception: February 6th, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Fourteen regional contemporary textile and fiber artists will exhibit their work in the Padnos Gallery from January 10th to March 1st, with a reception on February 6th from 5:30- 7:00 p.m. The show will feature a variety of masterworks, including sculpture, weaving, and quilts.
Exhibiting Artists: Kelly Allen, Jennifer Gould, Pricilla Lynch, Gloria Kirk-Hanna, Elliot Johnson, Jane Blacquiere, Judy Rosbury, Suzanne Ditsler, Sally Sundstrom, Nancy DeVries, Carol Irving, Susan Fleming, Shelby Freehling, and Patti Reen.
Conversations in Paper and Clay
January 23 - March 8
Lievense and Zobkiw Gallery
Reception: January 30, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Conversations in Paper and Clay features the collaboration between Gemma Fletcher and Catherine Green, who met in a ceramics studio in 2022. Catherine, a retired photographer-turned-ceramicist, explores porcelain’s translucency, while Gemma’s colorful work celebrates everyday moments using paint, print, and stitch. Their shared love of form, texture, and color shines through in this exhibition.
Gemma’s work combines vibrant color and surface decoration, inspired by daily life and nature. Catherine, who started pottery at 70, experiments with porcelain’s translucency and minimal glazing, blending her past photographic interests with clay.
Frequency (OBO)
January 13 - May 30
Hallway Gallery
By Michael Burmeister
The lyrics from Sylvan Esso’s “Frequency” and Rick Rubin’s thoughts on clouds reflect a desire for inspiration, a connection to a muse or source. In this show, the abstract paintings are Michael’s way of pursuing that energy—an exploration of flow, spirit, and surprise. Through marks and gestures, he tries to tap into that space where creation happens organically.
These works continue the practice from last year’s “The 46 Project,” which was influenced by the ethics of the punk band Fugazi and their spontaneous, improvisational approach to performance. Each show, like each painting, is a space for exploration and response.
February 2025
The Fine Art of Photograghy
February 20 - March 29
Armstrong Gallery
Reception: February 25, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Leslie Victor uses a camera to reveal the beauty and drama of what appears to be an ordinary world. Her photography journey began in her West Michigan backyard, where looking through a macro lens at dandelions and other weeds revealed the hidden beauty and structure in everything. Photography has opened her eyes to the intricate beauty of everyday life. She captures ordinary objects, using light to define and refine their details, then enhancing and adjusting perspectives during the editing process to elevate the image artistically. She favors a bold style with strong detail and minimal presentation, whether in color or monochrome.
This work is not a social commentary or narrative of issues, but simply art – subjective, personal, and always in the eye of the beholder.
March 2025
The Jagged Edges of Light and Shadow
March 5th - April 6th
Padnos Gallery
Reception: March 20, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Karin Nelson, an award-winning, nationally published artist, began her self-taught art journey in 2009 while working as an Executive Assistant. Her experimental acrylic paintings quickly gained attention, prompting her to pursue art full-time. Known for her bold, abstract landscapes, cityscapes, and seascapes, Karin’s work has been featured in international publications. Acrylic Magazine described her style as "strong angles, powerful lines, and the intersection of light and shadow." Karin thrives on the thrill of creating without sketches, using unconventional tools to achieve energetic, contrasting marks. Living near Lake Michigan, she draws endless inspiration from her surroundings and feels grateful for the opportunity to pursue her artistic calling.
2024 Exhibits
Tatsuki Hakoyama
November 8 - January
Lievense and Zobkiw Gallery
Reception: November 21, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
FOTOG: Holly Palmer Memorial Juried Regional Photographic Competition
October 17 - December 21
Padnos Gallery
Reception: October 24, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Small Works Holiday Exhibit
November 14 - December 21
Mainstreet Gallery
Reception: November 14, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Début 2023
Début Juried High School Art Exhibition features select student artwork from regional high schools with cash awards issued for excellence.
This year, to celebrate 45 years of this prestigious exhibition The Holland Area Arts Council will expand to display student art in all three galleries. This exhibit is supported by the Dennis Foley Memorial Sponsorship and Holland Friends of Art along with The National Endowment for the Arts and the Michigan Arts and Cultural Council. The exhibit is open from April 13-May 27.
ARTIST TALK- The Beauty in the Ordinary: Pastel Paintings by Jim McMillan, Helen Kleczynski and Thomas Tomasek
Padnos and Armstrong Galleries
Often we pass by a subject that is considered “Ordinary”. Michigan artists Jim McMillan, Helen Kleczynski and Thomas Tomasek took time to look more closely at their surroundings and found “Beauty” in ordinary subjects, both in their travels and just down the street. Their paintings incorporate dramatic patterns of light and shadow, abstract shapes, poetic colors and interesting textures that transform ordinary subjects into inspired works of art.
The Beauty in the Ordinary: Paintings by Jim McMillan, Helen Kleczynski and Thomas Tomasek
Padnos and Armstrong Galleries
Reception March 10th 5:30-7:30 pm
Often we pass by a subject that is considered “Ordinary”. Michigan artists Jim McMillan, Helen Kleczynski and Thomas Tomasek took time to look more closely at their surroundings and found “Beauty” in ordinary subjects, both in their travels and just down the street. Their paintings incorporate dramatic patterns of light and shadow, abstract shapes, poetic colors and interesting textures that transform ordinary subjects into inspired works of art.
Reception: Holland Friends of Art Juried Members Show
This organization of talented artists was originally founded in 1963 through the efforts of the local creative community. The goal of this group is to initiate an annual members art exhibit and to stimulate community awareness of the creative talents in the Holland area. We have grown over the years to be a well-respected supporter of the visual arts within West Michigan. Become a member and help support the arts!
Community of Mud: The Work of the Holland Arts Ceramics Studio
The Arts Council houses a vibrant community of ceramic artists and potters. We will be displaying a sample of these diverse works in the Armstrong Gallery.
Abstracts in Steel and Fiber
This is the first exhibit featuring the work of Blair Rieckmann and Elizabeth Brandt together. Through over 30 years of marriage, they’ve shared a love of artwork and mid-century modern design, filling their home with both. But it wasn’t until they found mentors that they began to create artwork of their own. In 1999, Elizabeth gave Blair the gift of a copper bowl forming class with Ed Gray at Ox-bow in Saugatuck, MI. This workshop was a turning point for Blair who was able to let go of the precision he had learned as a machinist and to use welded or blacksmithed scrap steel to create expressive new forms. In 2006, Blair gave Elizabeth a book by contemporary artist and quilt maker Nancy Crow. The idea that one could use fabric to create such powerful art intrigued her, so she began studying at the Crow Timber Frame Barn in Ohio in 2010. She has attended workshops there ever since. In this exhibit, Blair and Elizabeth are showing a range of their work which highlights their love of improvisational composition, form, color, balance, and texture.
Holland Friends of Art Juried Members Show
This organization of talented artists was originally founded in 1963 through the efforts of the local creative community. The goal of this group is to initiate an annual members art exhibit and to stimulate community awareness of the creative talents in the Holland area. We have grown over the years to be a well-respected supporter of the visual arts within West Michigan. Become a member and help support the arts!
Reception: Rude Food
Lievense Gallery
Tasty or possibly a little tasteless food items expressed in artwork. Guest curator- Tamara Fox.
Reception: FOTOG- The Holly Palmer Juried Photo Show
RECEPTION - A large and dynamic exhibition featuring the photographic work of this region's best. Juried by Randall Nyhof. Awards by the Holly Palmer Foundation. Image is Randall Nyhof's "Pavillion at Ottawa Beach".
Reception: Found Hither and Yon, Art Featuring Dorris Akers
Armstrong Gallery
This collection represents approximately ten years of fun, whimsy and discovery. Using exclusively man-made objects found hither and yon in daily life and others bestowed by family members and friends, The materials are diverse and the methods of joining them are too. When at all possible the objects are used as they were found with few or no alterations. Basically it's my goal to obscure their use and change their meaning.
Found Hither and Yon, Art Featuring Dorris Akers
Armstrong Gallery
This collection represents approximately ten years of fun, whimsy and discovery. Using exclusively man-made objects found hither and yon in daily life and others bestowed by family members and friends, The materials are diverse and the methods of joining them are too. When at all possible the objects are used as they were found with few or no alterations. Basically it's my goal to obscure their use and change their meaning.
Rude Food
Lievense Gallery
Tasty or possibly a little tasteless food items expressed in artwork. Guest curator- Tamara Fox.
FOTOG- The Holly Palmer Juried Photo Show
A large and dynamic exhibition featuring the photographic work of this region's best. Juried by Randall Nyhof. Awards by the Holly Palmer Foundation. Image is Randall Nyhof's "Pavillion at Ottawa Beach".
Rizzolo/Rizzolo Retrospective: Dance of Life...Fun of Play
Padnos Gallery
Reception: July 21 5:30-7:30 pm
Lou and Linda Rizzolo present their works in the Padnos Gallery. This monumental exhibition is a retrospective of the Glen, Michigan couple’s artistic creativity. In the gallery we present large scale 2-D watermedia works as well as sculpture. Linda and Lou Rizzolo have also been instructors, hosting a renowned annual workshop for artists. The Rizzolo exhibition is paired with a showing of the works of past workshop participants in the exhibit “Lights of inspiration” showing simultaneously in the Armstrong Gallery.
“Linda and Lou’s highly individualistic art relationship, as husband and wife, is centered on inspiration and equality. The subtitle says it all, “dance of life ....fun of play”! Inspired by the mysteries of Lake Michigan, their unique personal aesthetics flourish through the love of God and energized by a loving, supportive, non-competitive relationship. The exhibition reflects artwork that is qualitatively rendered to achieve the most beautiful of form”, Linda and Lou.
"All the Feels" Art for All Artwork
Lievense Gallery
Reception: August 29th 6:00-7:00 pm
“All the Feels” is an exhibit of the recent artwork from our Art for All program.
Art for All, a unique art program for adults with mental and/or physical disabilities, began in 1985 as an opportunity for individuals in the community to experience the arts.
Today the Art for All program is a year-round class taught once a week for an hour and a half. The present supervising instructor is Sandie Coffman. Student attendance varies from 13 to 20 each week. The cost is $20 per month, and scholarships are available from community sponsors. Art for All students are exposed to various art media including printmaking, weaving, clay sculpture, painting, and wood construction, as well as dance and movement 6-8:00 pm Mondays.