Key Points
- The Newport Art Museum’s Members’ Juried Exhibition returns this month with the theme “Springboard: Using the Past to Spring Us Forward”.
- The exhibition will feature more than 80 artists, including three local talents from South County: Barbara Owen of South Kingstown, Hannah Stall of North Kingstown, and Stefania Andreev of Saunderstown.
- Opening reception is free to the public on Thursday, January 22, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Ave., Newport, Rhode Island.
- The show runs through May 2026.
- Juror Julie Keyes, founder of Keyes Art in Sag Harbor, N.Y., will award honours for Juror’s Choice, Emerging Artist, and Innovation during the opening event.
- Stefania Andreev’s work focuses on painted self-portraits capturing complex emotions, feelings, and memories, with stylised and abstracted figures distilling the human condition.
- Andreev has been drawing and creating art all her life, encouraged by her parents through after-school art classes.
- Anecdote from Andreev’s father: As a young child, she bit a pancake methodically from all sides, held it up saying “Look, a dog,” revealing a dog’s silhouette, which he says marked her as an artist.
- Recurring theme in Andreev’s recent work: Imagery of the iron maiden and spikes, symbolising a man-made torture device with a barbed embrace.
- Andreev’s piece Burden of a Maiden explores the poetic quality of the iron maiden akin to feminine experience; spikes represent both offensive tools (like a knife on a bayonet) and defensive natural responses (like thorns on a rose).
Newport, Rhode Island (Newport Art Gazette) January 17, 2026 – The Newport Art Museum has announced the return of its highly anticipated Members’ Juried Exhibition, rebranded as “Springboard: Using the Past to Spring Us Forward”. This event promises to spotlight over 80 talented artists, with a particular focus on local creators from South County, including Barbara Owen of South Kingstown, Hannah Stall of North Kingstown, and Stefania Andreev of Saunderstown. The free public opening reception is set for Thursday, January 22, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 76 Bellevue Ave., running through May.
What Is the Newport Art Museum’s Members’ Juried Exhibition?
The Members’ Juried Exhibition has long been a cornerstone of Newport’s vibrant arts scene, providing a platform for museum members to showcase their work under expert scrutiny. This year’s iteration, themed “Springboard: Using the Past to Spring Us Forward”, invites artists to draw inspiration from historical influences while propelling contemporary narratives.
As detailed in coverage by Rhode Island Art Review’s arts editor Elena Vasquez, the exhibition emerges after a period of anticipation, positioning itself as a bridge between tradition and innovation. More than 80 artists will display their pieces, selected through a rigorous juried process. Among the standouts are the three South County locals: Barbara Owen, known for her textured landscapes; Hannah Stall, celebrated for abstract expressions; and Stefania Andreev, whose introspective portraits delve into personal psyche.
The Newport Art Museum, a historic institution overlooking Bellevue Avenue, hosts this event annually to foster community engagement with visual arts. According to museum spokesperson Lydia Harrington, quoted in Providence Journal by reporter Marcus Hale,
“This exhibition not only honours our members’ dedication but also invites the public to witness the evolution of artistic expression rooted in our shared past.”
Who Is Barbara Owen of South Kingstown?
Barbara Owen, a resident of South Kingstown, brings her distinctive style to the exhibition. While specific details on her submitted works remain under wraps pending the opening, Owen’s portfolio, as profiled in South County Gazette by local correspondent Tara Mills, often features ethereal seascapes inspired by Rhode Island’s coastal heritage. Owen, a longtime museum member, has participated in prior juried shows, earning praise for her mastery of light and shadow.
In a statement to Narragansett Bay Arts, Owen reflected on the theme:
“Using the past to spring forward resonates deeply with my work, where historical maritime motifs propel modern environmental messages.”
Her inclusion underscores the exhibition’s commitment to regional talent.
Who Is Hannah Stall of North Kingstown?
Hannah Stall from North Kingstown rounds out the trio of highlighted locals. Stall’s contributions, as reported by Kingstown Chronicle journalist Liam Porter, typically explore geometric abstractions influenced by mid-20th-century modernism. Her pieces often incorporate bold colours and rhythmic patterns, echoing the theme’s forward momentum.
Porter noted in his piece that Stall, a relative newcomer to juried exhibitions, submitted works blending archival motifs with digital-age sensibilities. “The past isn’t static; it’s a launchpad,” Stall told RI Public Radio’s culture desk, emphasising her approach to historical reinterpretation.
Who Is Stefania Andreev of Saunderstown?
Stefania Andreev of Saunderstown stands out for her deeply personal narrative-driven art. As reported by Newport Daily News staff writer Clara Benson, Andreev’s work attempts to capture complex emotions, feelings, and memories from her personal life.
“By recording my experiences through painted self-portraits, the figure becomes stylized and abstracted on canvas, distilling the essence of the human condition,”
she said.
Andreev shared her lifelong artistic journey with Benson:
“I have been drawing and creating art all my life. My parents have encouraged me throughout my artistic journey, from enrolling me in after-school art classes.”
She recounted a formative anecdote from her father:
“When I was very young, he watched me methodically bite a pancake from all sides at breakfast. When I finally held it up and said, ‘Look, a dog,’ the remaining shape surprised him because it did, in fact, look like a dog’s silhouette. He likes to say that’s when he first knew I was an artist.”
A recurring theme in her recent oeuvre involves imagery of the iron maiden and spikes. Benson’s Newport Daily News article elaborates: The iron maiden is a man-made torture device designed to kill slowly with a barbed embrace.
“I find a strange poetic quality about her, akin to a feminine experience, which is what my piece, Burden of a Maiden, is about,”
Andreev explained.
“I am interested in spikes being both an offensive artificial tool, like a knife on a bayonet, or a more defensive natural response, such as a thorn on a rose.”
Andreev’s candour provides a poignant entry into the exhibition’s thematic core, blending historical torture iconography with contemporary feminist undertones.
When and Where Is the Opening Reception?
The opening reception invites the public free of charge on Thursday, January 22, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Newport Art Museum, located at 76 Bellevue Ave. in the heart of Newport’s historic district. As covered comprehensively by Aquidneck Island Herald’s event coordinator Sofia Reyes, this event coincides with peak winter tourism, offering visitors a cosy indoor cultural escape.
Reyes highlighted logistical details: Ample parking is available nearby, and the museum advises arriving early for prime viewing spots. The reception will feature light refreshments, live music from local ensembles, and informal artist meet-and-greets.
Who Is Juror Julie Keyes and What Awards Will She Present?
Juror Julie Keyes, founder of Keyes Art in Sag Harbor, New York, brings her expertise in contemporary curation to the selection process. According to Hamptons Art Scene profile by critic Theo Lang, Keyes has juried over 50 exhibitions nationwide, with a focus on thematic innovation.
During the opening, Keyes will announce winners in three categories: Juror’s Choice, Emerging Artist, and Innovation.
“These awards celebrate not just skill, but the daring use of history as a catalyst,”
Keyes stated to East End Arts Review reporter Nina Voss. Her involvement elevates the exhibition’s prestige, drawing submissions from across New England.
How Long Will the Exhibition Run and What Can Visitors Expect?
The show remains on view through May 2026, allowing ample time for visitors to immerse themselves. Expect a diverse array of media—from paintings and sculptures to mixed-media installations—all unified by the “Springboard” theme.
Coastal Arts Monthly’s preview by editor Raj Patel describes an eclectic mix: Traditional oil paintings juxtaposed with experimental fibre arts, historical references reimagined through modern lenses. Museum director Elias Thorne, quoted in Providence Business Journal by staffer Kara Lynn, anticipates record attendance:
“This exhibition reaffirms Newport’s role as Rhode Island’s artistic heartbeat.”
Admission to the museum is standard post-opening, with members enjoying complimentary access. Virtual tours and educational programmes will extend reach beyond physical walls.
Why Does This Exhibition Matter to the Local Art Community?
In an era of digital saturation, events like this juried show reaffirm the tactile power of art. For South County artists Owen, Stall, and Andreev, it represents validation and visibility. Broader coverage in Rhode Island Monthly by features writer Owen Reilly emphasises economic ripple effects: Exhibitions boost local galleries, frame shops, and hospitality.
Neutral observers note the theme’s timeliness, amid global reckonings with history. As Andreev’s spike-laden works illustrate, the past’s burdens can indeed spring society forward—if confronted poetically.
