photography by Ed Maximus New Jersey has a long history and tradition of being a welcoming state and embracing rich, diverse cultures. From Ellis Island as an immigration hub during the early half of the 20th century to almost 200 languages spoken across the contemporary state, New Jersey reflects a microcosm of international expression and artistic inclinations. Since 1966, the New Jersey State Council of the Arts has been a symbol and conduit of how the state takes the arts

An artifact typically acts as a memorial to a civilization and testament to a period of time. But what if the concept of an artifact were to be used as an ‘anti-memorial’ and to instill institutional criticism? Such notions are captured in the conceptual artworks of Luna Qiuwen Lyu, a jewelry designer and interactive installation artist. From sonic waves which traverse space and transmit the chatter of the 20th century recordings in an installation such as A Billion Solitary

Written by Joas Nebe. Valéry Belin (born 1964) experiments with the emotional and cognitive reactions images provoke within viewers, exploring photography and moving images as dominant narrative forces shaping contemporary perception. Photographs occupy public and private spaces ubiquitously; after more than 180 years of technical and cultural evolution, photographic and cinematic imagery follow entrenched narrative grammars established by Hollywood’s production machinery (ge

The photographic assemblages (or photo collages) of Nancy Staub Laughlin are based on concepts of luminosity and intrinsic value. Through specific ‘sparkled’ motifs such as jewelry, gems, diamonds, crystals, pearls, florals, magnolia trees, snowy wintery landscapes, and oceanscapes, she creates her own sense of mythology on visuals meant to be treasured and cherished. Nancy Staub Laughlin has exhibited in Chelsea multiple times and has been critically reviewed and published e

Echoes of Perception by Fina Ferrara is interactive performance art but presented in a manner similar to theatre, with a formal stage and seated audience. The conceptual basis of the performance conveys the Kuleshov effect, a film editing practice leaving the audience with different interpretations of the same action when presented with various visual contexts. Fina’s performance entails short 5 minute screenings of clips from several Hollywood movies. These films include The

Filmmaker, photographer, set designer, actor, & writer Jaina Cipriano from the Boston metropolitan area is working on a new bold film titled Actualization . A project bigger and more ambitious than any of her previous endeavors and she is asking for financial help. The fundraising goal for the film is a modest $20,000 in order to pay for materials, rent equipment, and pay crew / staff. Like all of Jaina’s short arthouse films and photography, Actualization will contain 100%

artwork by Petra Brnardic Even a break from recent tradition, today’s contemporary experimental artists are redefining femininity in the digital era. From embracing ‘survival feminism’ to enchanted, mystical, and mythological portrayals, artists such as Mädchen Vivi, Petra Brnardic, HsinYing Lin, and Leni Smoragdova lend their artistic interpretation to explaining the purpose of womanhood in contemporary times. artwork by Petra Brnardic Avant-garde experimental women artists

Written by Joas Nebe. The exhibition spaces have been darkened intentionally, with ceiling lights shrouded, allowing both the rooms and the installations to be accentuated by focused spotlights. In this immersive environment, the artist transports us back to the era of the transatlantic slave trade during the 17th century, a harrowing chapter in history which saw the involvement not only of American shipowners but also countless Europeans and, significantly, Africans themse

Ann Vollum’s solo exhibition at The Brassworks Gallery in affluent Montclair, New Jersey is of the highest quality and comprehensive. These dynamic textile works mainly come in two forms of plush ‘beasties’ and graphic ‘beasties’, all hand-sewn and meticulously assembled from recycled fiber materials. Sharp Teeth, Long Tongues! exhibition runs until May 22nd, 2026 and the gallery is open weekdays from 7am-7pm, with easier parking during latter hours. The gallery will also be

Photographers and photography enthusiasts often have a mythological narrative about analogue format photography, but what are the alluring attributes of digital photography? Do not misinterpret this essay, because we are not discussing digitally-enhanced photography, but rather work which was captured with a digital camera. Although analogue format photography has stunning granial texture and rich contrast, digital photography offers a pleasant saturation, potential for remar