Galerie Myrtis

FUZE Art Fair 2026

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FUZE Caribbean Art Fair 2026

LOCATION: Baha Mar Resort in Nassau, Bahamas
October 21 -25, 2026

Coming Home

Coming Home brings together the mixed-media collages of Lavett Ballard and the layered figurative paintings of Damilare Jamiu Kanyinsola, examining home as a site of memory, identity, and collective care. Both artists create intimate portraits of Black life that affirm belonging in a world shaped by displacement and isolation.

Ballard’s collages explore how self and community are constructed through layered histories and material memory. Combining painted imagery, textiles, and fragmented visual references, she shows how home is carried internally through memory, ritual, and cultural inheritance.

Kanyinsola’s paintings evoke home as a psychological and spiritual sanctuary. His subjects carry a regal presence, surrounded by botanical imagery, patterned textiles, and vibrant color that speak to cultural continuity. Rejecting narratives of scarcity, his portraits offer Black domesticity rooted in abundance, tenderness, and emotional grounding.

Together, Ballard and Kanyinsola envision home not only as a physical place but as an emotional and communal condition, emphasizing restoration over spectacle and storytelling over transaction. The presentation aligns with FUZE Art Fair’s commitment to collaboration, Caribbean diasporic dialogue, and collective growth.

Coming home, they remind us, is both a return and a reimagining: an act of creating spaces where people can be fully seen, valued, and connected.

The fair will take place from October 21nd to 25th, running daily from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM at the Baha Mar Resort in Nassau, Bahamas. Click here for ticket information.

Stars and Stripes Pride Protest Promise

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BRIA STERLING WILSON
My American Gothic, 2025
Collage, found imagery, family archives
18.25 × 17 ″

Stars and Stripes: Pride, Protest & Promise

Opening Reception:
October 16th, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Exhibition runs October 16, 2026 – February 5, 2027.

In celebration of its twentieth anniversary, Galerie Myrtis will present Stars and Stripes: Pride, Protest & Promise, an exhibition examining the enduring symbolism of the American flag and the complex meanings of patriotism, from October 16, 2026, through February 5, 2027.

Marking both a significant milestone for Galerie Myrtis and a pivotal moment of national reflection, the exhibition coincides with the United States’ 250th anniversary. This historic occasion invites renewed consideration of the symbols, values, and narratives that have shaped the American experience—and of the ideals represented by the nation’s most enduring symbol: the American flag.

First explored by Galerie Myrtis in its 2008 exhibition Stars and Stripes: Pride or Despair, the subject returns nearly two decades later with renewed urgency. Through the perspectives of contemporary artists, the exhibition examines patriotism, belonging, identity, freedom, and the enduring tensions between the promise of America and the realities of the American experience.

The American flag endures as one of the nation’s most potent and contested symbols. It has flown over moments of profound progress and painful contradiction: the expansion of civil rights alongside their persistent contestation, democratic ideals shadowed by systemic inequities.

Drawing from the visual language of stars and stripes, the artists in this exhibition—representing diverse cultural, racial, and religious backgrounds—engage the flag not as a static icon, but as a living, evolving site of meaning. Their works celebrate resilience, sacrifice, and collective achievement while also challenging narratives that obscure histories of exclusion and unresolved injustice.

Situated within today’s charged political and social climate—marked by polarization, debates around belonging, and renewed demands for accountability, the exhibition asks what patriotism can and should mean in the present moment. The American flag becomes both mirror and measure, reflecting pride and grief, hope and dissent. These tensions are not framed as oppositional, but as inseparable forces that have always shaped the nation’s democratic project.

By returning to this theme at a pivotal historical moment, Galerie Myrtis underscores the enduring relevance of artistic inquiry in shaping civic imagination. Stars and Stripes: Pride, Protest & Promise, honors the struggles and triumphs that have expanded democracy’s reach, while inviting reflection on the work that remains. As the nation looks toward its next century, the exhibition affirms that celebration and critique are not contradictory acts, but essential components of an engaged, evolving democracy.

Featured Artists: Devin Allen, Lavett Ballard, Wesley Clark, Connor Czora, Tawny Chatmon, Morel Doucet, Ya La’Ford, Jerrell Gibbs, Susan Goldman, Monica Ikegwu, Ronald Jackson, Fabiola Jean-Louis, M. Scott Johnson, Megan Lewis, Lex Marie, Kim Rice, James Seward, and Felandus Thames.

An American Fiction – Ronald Jackson

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An American Fiction

Opening Reception:
Saturday, September 5th, from 2:00 – 6:00

Artist Talk: October 3rd, from 2:00 – 4:00 (RSVP REQUIRED)

The exhibit will run September 5 – October 3, 2026.

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Galerie Myrtis is proud to present “An American Fiction,” a solo exhibition showcasing new paintings by Ronald Jackson. This presentation marks a compelling new chapter in Jackson’s ongoing exploration of identity, memory, and portraiture. The exhibit introduces a vibrant cast of characters drawn from a fictional narrative inspired by Percival Everett’s novel “Erasure,” alongside elements from its film adaptation directed by Cord Jefferson.

Artist Statement

I create and paint characters who belong to stories that are yet to be written.

My work begins in the private space of invention—creating individuals out of imagination, and then imagining how their lives intersect within an unmade world. Drawing inspiration from the satirical humor of American Fiction and the layered storytelling of Percival Everett’s Erasure, this series frames each portrait as a casting list or a production still from an unrealized screenplay titled An American Fiction.

Through detailed and cinematic titles, each figure is cast twice over: as a character holding a specific station in an untold narrative, and as a fictional actor playing the part. Some of these figures wear masks—a motif that has been central to my practice, suggesting that there is something to be discovered. I use the mask not to conceal, but to signal that a rich, unexcavated narrative exists beneath the surface. It asks the viewer to consider what lies beyond the visible role, prompting a question central to performance: are we admiring the superficial? Do we distinguish between the performer and the character being played? Do we recognize that there is likely a very different reality than the one being presented to us?

In the film American Fiction, the protagonist, Monk, describes his creative process with striking simplicity: “I just invent little people in my mind and make them have conversations with each other.” That spark of pure imagination—the freedom to build characters simply because they are interesting—is the foundation of my interest in creating characters inside imagined stories.

I choose to convey imagery with a quiet and subtle touch of magical realism, where things feel just slightly outside of the ordinary. With AN AMERICAN FICTION, I set a stage that teeters on the edges of the fantastical. I present characters that occupy spaces within the deliberate mysteries of an unfinished story – an unfinished story that only develops further when in collaboration with the viewer’s imagination.

— Ronald Jackson

Holding Space to Bloom – Virtual Exhibition

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Holding Space to Bloom – Virtual Exhibition

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Holding Space to Bloom, a virtual exhibition bringing together the work of Morel Doucet, Monica Ikegwu, and Ya La’ford, in an exploration of personal, communal, and ecological spaces that nurture belonging, resilience, and collective flourishing. Co-curated by Gallery Directors Noel Bedolla and Ky Vassor, this exhibit examines how care, memory, identity, and the environment shape conditions for growth.

At its core, Holding Space to Bloom considers what it means to cultivate environments where individuals, communities, and ecosystems can thrive. Blooming is both a process and a celebration that recognizes the beauty, strength, and possibility that emerge when care is sustained over time. The works themselves extend this idea beyond the gallery as they become part of homes, collections, and institutions; places where they continue to inspire reflection, connection, and dialogue in everyday life.

Through assemblage, Morel Doucet asserts that the land is a vessel of memory and renewal, serving as a repository for the stories of its stewards. Monica Ikegwu explores the influence of environment on the formation of identity. These intimate hyperrealistic portraits celebrate the richness of everyday Black life, transforming presence into affirmations of cultural continuity and belonging. Ya La’ford invites audiences to engage in a reflective examination of spatial formation and the trajectory of humanity. Through abstraction La’ford navigates the intersections of land, heritage, and global histories. Collectively, featured artists underscore the notion that flourishing emerges through relationships, creativity, and care.

Holding Space to Bloom invites viewers to consider not only the spaces we inhabit, but also the role art plays within them. Works featured serve as archives for memory, conversation, and belonging. They remind us that art does more than reflect our lives; it helps shape the environments where we gather, remember, and ultimately bloom.

artwork: Monica Ikegwu, Eclipse, 2025, Oil on canvas, 36 x 48″

Programming: Room to Bloom – Virtual Panel Discussion | August 22nd | Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm

Galerie Myrtis invites you to join our upcoming virtual program, “Room to Bloom.” This panel discussion will explore the vital role contemporary artists play in preserving cultural heritage and fostering growth within their communities through art. Panelists include featured artists from Holding Space to Bloom and a Co-Founder of Flourish Artist Accelerator. Flourish is a Chicago-based national organization that empowers artists, curators, and communities through mentorship, partnership, and investment. Moderated by Co-curator and Assistant Director Ky Vassor, this engaging discussion aims to illuminate the interconnectedness of art, culture, and community empowerment. The panel will conclude with a Q&A session, offering a unique opportunity for attendees to engage directly with panelists on their practices and upcoming projects.

1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair 2026

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1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair | Booth #9

Lavett Ballard | Damilare Kanyinsola | Megan Lewis

price list | catalog |

DAMILARE JAMIU, A Piece of Peace, 2025, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 48″ x 36″

About the Artists

Lavett Ballard

b. 1970, East Orange, New Jersey

Lavett Ballard (b. 1970, East Orange, NJ) anchors the presentation with richly layered portraits that fuse historical consciousness and decorative abstraction. Holding dual Bachelor’s degrees in Studio Art and Art History with a minor in Museum Studies from Rutgers University, and an MFA from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Ballard brings academic rigor and cultural sensitivity to her practice. Her compositions often incorporate wallpaper-like motifs, gilded surfaces, and symbolic patterning that reference African textiles while engaging Western portrait traditions. Ballard’s national recognition includes her commission by Time Magazine.

Damilare Jamiu Kanyinsola

b. 1994, Lagos Island, Nigeria

Damilare Jamiu Kanyinsola (b. 1994, Lagos Island, Nigeria) grounds the presentation in lived African experience and philosophical reflection. Apprenticed early under Lagos-based artist Muyiwa Williams, Damilare developed a practice deeply informed by his environment and the realities of contemporary Nigeria. Self-described as an African Realist, he centers authentic African narratives through figurative painting that often includes animals—cats and dogs—as symbolic companions. His work reflects a meditative engagement with humanity, spirituality, and Black consciousness. Within the booth, Damilare’s paintings offer an intimate, grounded perspective on African identity, memory, and resilience.

Megan Lewis

b. 1989, Baltimore, Maryland

Megan Lewis (b. 1989, Baltimore, MD) contributes a dynamic, painterly counterpoint through highly physical ﬁgurative works that pulse with movement and color. A graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design (BFA, Illustration, 2011), Lewis is both a painter and muralist, known for wielding a palette knife with decisive precision. Her ﬁgures are rendered in bold hues and geometric forms, often adorned with layered textiles that draw from African design traditions. Ankara fabrics—some acquired during her travels to Johannesburg, South Africa—are integrated directly into her paintings, collapsing boundaries between surface, pattern, and body.

Beyond the Surface – Exploring Visibility in Print

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Beyond the Surface: Exploring Visibility in Print

May 2 – July 11, 2026

preview artwork | programming

Galerie Myrtis is proud to present Beyond the Surface: Exploring Visibility in Print, a group exhibition organized by the Legacy Print Council (LPC) and guest curated by Delita Martin. Featuring eleven artists, the exhibition examines the layered and often contested idea of visibility through the medium of printmaking.

The exhibition debuts the inaugural LPC portfolio alongside additional works by each participating artist, creating a dynamic conversation about presence, recognition, concealment, and power. Through diverse printmaking practices, the artists explore visibility not as a fixed state, but as an experience shaped by history, identity, and social context.

Grounded in the tactile language of print, the works move beyond surface appearances to consider how individuals and communities are seen, overlooked, exposed, and remembered in the digital age.

“Together, the eleven artists in this exhibition invite viewers to move beyond surface readings and into deeper engagement. They ask us to consider not only what is visible, but how we see, who is granted recognition, and what remains overlooked. Through the enduring and tactile language of printmaking, Beyond the Surface becomes both a space of reflection and a call to awareness, challenging us to reconsider our role as observers and participants in the ongoing act of making meaning visible.” – Delita Martin

Featured Artists: Chole Alexander, Rabea Ballin, Jamaal Barber, Maurice Evans, Ann Johnson, Grace Kisa, Delita Martin, Steve Prince, Rashaun Rucker, Jess Sabogal, and Shanna Stauss

Delita Martin, Beneath What Is Seen, Beyond the Surface: Exploring Visibility in Print Portfolio, 2026
Relief, screen printing, lithography, and hand details, 20 x 16”

Programming

Saturday, June 13, 2:00 – 4:00 pm

In-Person Artist Panel

Galerie Myrtis invites you to an engaging panel discussion presented in conjunction with the exhibition Beyond the Surface: Exploring Visibility in Print. Participating artists will offer personal reflections on the material choices, historical contexts, and social influences that shape their creative practices.

Moderated by Galerie Myrtis Founding Director Dr. Myrtis Bedolla, the conversation will explore the shared and individual narratives woven throughout the exhibition. Printmakers working across diverse mediums will discuss their methodologies and the deeper themes embedded in their work.

The program will conclude with an open Q&A, offering attendees a rare opportunity to connect directly with the artists and learn more about their current and upcoming projects.

In Person
Registration required
Limited seating

July 11, 2026, 2:00 – 4:00 pm

Seen/Unseen: Contemporary Approaches to Visibility in Print – Virtual Panel

Join the Legacy Print Council (LPC) for a dynamic virtual panel discussion exploring the collaborative power, creative possibilities, and enduring impact of printmaking. Moderated by Myrtis Bedolla, Founding Director of Galerie Myrtis, the conversation will feature LPC members reflecting on the collective’s inaugural portfolio, Beyond the Surface: Exploring Visibility in Print, while examining the broader role of printmaking as a vehicle for cultural preservation, activism, storytelling, and artistic innovation.

Through discussions of process, imagery, and conceptual development, participating artists will share how themes of visibility, presence, identity, memory, and perception inform their individual contributions to the portfolio and their wider artistic practices. Panelists will also offer insight into the creation of portfolio exchanges, the cultivation of a print-based artist collective, and the ways contemporary printmakers continue to shape critical conversations while honoring the rich legacy of the medium. Together, the discussion highlights printmaking’s unique capacity to reveal, document, challenge, and preserve the complexities of the human experience. Featured panelists include Rabéa Ballin, Jamaal Barber, Maurice Evans, Ann Johnson, Grace Kisa, Delita Martin, and Shanna Strauss.

Virtual
Registration required

Date TBD

Virtual Closing Program

2:00 – 4:00 pm

Galerie Myrtis cordially invites you to our virtual closing program for Beyond the Surface: Exploring Visibility in Print. During this discussion, artists from the Legacy Print Council will present their recently released portfolio, Beyond the Surface: Exploring Visibility in Print.

Each artist will elaborate on how their work relates to the portfolio and provide insights into the print they contributed, offering audiences a richer understanding of the project and its broader themes.

Virtual
Registration will be required

Expo Chicago 2026 Audio Catalog

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ExpoChicago

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EXPO CHICAGO
April 9–12, 2026
Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, Chicago IL

Reclaiming the Lens: Memory, Reflection, and Reclamation in Contemporary Black Art

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Artwork & Price List

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Devin Allen

b. 1988, Baltimore, Maryland

Devin Allen is an accomplished photographer and author who adeptly captures the experiences of African Americans, encompassing their joys, struggles, and realities. Allen’s dynamic imagery often portrays scenes from his hometown, presenting an alternative narrative to the prevalent depictions of the city and its inhabitants in the media. read the featured catalog entry for Devin

Tawny Chatmon

b. 1979, Tokyo, Japan

Tawny Chatmon’s work explores identity, heritage, and the beauty of Black childhood through richly layered portraiture. Working primarily with photography as a foundation, her practice expands into material processes that include hand-embroidery, beading, metallic pigments, and other mixed media that center Black children and families with dignity and grace. read the featured catalog entry for Tawny

M. Scott Johnson

b. 1968, Inkster, Michigan

M. Scott Johnson came of age in the sonic laboratory of Detroit techno—a site where Black futurity learned to inhabit circuitry, loop, and pulse. That machinic rhythm permeates his sculptural vocabulary, as syncopation and repetition are transposed into line, cut, and void. His sculptures embody an Afrosurrealist materialism: objects rooted in atavistic memory yet emerging like dream fragments in material form. read the featured catalog entry for Scott

Art of the Collectors XI

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Art of the Collectors XI

February 21 – April 18, 2026

preview artwork

Galerie Myrtis celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026, marking two decades of championing artists, advancing cultural dialogue, and building community through art. Founded in 2006 in Washington, DC, and relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, in 2008, Galerie Myrtis has since become a vital cultural anchor in the city—recognized for its unwavering commitment to artistic excellence, cultural stewardship, and amplifying African American and African Diaspora voices.

To commemorate this milestone, the gallery will present a year-long series of exhibitions and public programs that reflect its enduring mission.

The anniversary year launches with Art of the Collectors XI, a curated exhibition highlighting exceptional works by African American and African Diasporic artists, spanning emerging talents to celebrated masters. The exhibition includes multi-media works from the estates of James Hill and Helen Jackson, among others, all available for purchase. A dedicated virtual viewing room will offer a rare opportunity to acquire works from the collections of renowned arts patron Arthur Lewis, alongside other noted collectors.

Together, these programs celebrate Galerie Myrtis’s legacy as a space where art, history, and community converge—and where collecting is understood as an act of generosity, stewardship, and connection across generations.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, February 28

Art and Legacy

2:00 – 4:00 pm

Free
RSVP required (limited seating)

On February 28, 2026 (2:00 – 4:00 pm), Galerie Myrtis will host Art and Legacy, an intimate panel discussion exploring art collecting as an intergenerational practice. The panel features members of Dr. Myrtis Bedolla’s family—April Bedolla, Christopher Bedolla, Alex Hyman, and Jenell Steele—who will reflect on how Dr. Bedolla’s role as both matriarch and gallerist shaped the family’s shared passion for collecting. Moderated by Ky Vassor, Assistant Director, the conversation examines collecting as an act of preservation, care, and cultural continuity.

Portraits of the Bedolla-Hyman and Steele Families; Photographer: Ryan Stevenson, 2019

Saturday, March 14

Special Edition of Tea with Myrtis

Changamiré: A Tribute to Billie Holiday

2:00 – 5:00 pm
SOLD OUT! – Join Waiting List
Seating is limited

A special anniversary edition of Tea with Myrtis, Changamiré: A Tribute to Billie Holiday, will take place on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. This curated listening salon features an intimate dialogue between acclaimed jazz vocalist Changamiré and Dr. Myrtis Bedolla, accompanied by vinyl selections from Seeking Billie: The Unusual Tribute to Billie Holiday. The program will also premiere Project 44, a new video series that connects Billie Holiday’s enduring legacy to the lived experiences of contemporary Black women. The LP will be available for purchase during the event.

Seeking Billie: The Unusual Tribute to Billie Holiday (album cover & headshot of Changamiré). Images courtesy of the artist and Sonning Records.

Saturday, April 18

Collecting: An Unruly Passion

2:00 – 4:00 pm

Anniversary programming continues on April 18, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, with Collecting: An Unruly Passion, a dynamic panel discussion featuring collectors who will reflect on the motivations behind their collecting practices and the critical role that lending artworks to museums plays in expanding public access, advancing education, and ensuring cultural preservation. Panelists will include Darryl and Leslye Fraser; Gregg J Justice III; and Bill Mitchell, with Dr. Myrtis Bedolla as moderator.

Free
RSVP required (limited seating)

artwork: April Bey, Can’t Fake Humble Just ‘Cause Yo Ass is Insecure, 2021
Digitally woven taspestry, metallic cord, glitter (currency), hand-sewing, epoxy resin on wood panel, 48 x 36”; Courtesy the Arthur Lewis Collection

James Seward Biography

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Biography

James Seward was born in El Paso, Texas in 1979. He received his B.F.A at the Savannah College of Art and Design. He has exhibited in many galleries and several museums throughout the United States; His painting My Father in The Living Room of Our 10th House was accepted into the first Boochever Portrait Competition at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. In 2021, he was the recipient of the Peter S Reed Foundation grant. In 2024 he had a solo exhibition Embrace: Cinematic Moments at the Hudson River Museum. His work has been published in the LA Times, on the cover of Newsweek Magazine, Ritz Carlton Magazine, New American Paintings, and American Art Collector. He worked for several years as an assistant painter for the internationally renowned artist Jeff Koons. James currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.

image courtesy of the Hudson River Museum (hrm.org)