After attending a lecture at the New York Botanical Garden, my friend Chris and I went to the conservatory to see the amazing Orchid Show. This is the best orchid exhibition in years. It was designed by the floral designer Mr. Flower Fantastic and features his work, which he displays throughout New York City.
These daily studio notes lead toward my 2026 solo exhibitions in New York City and Poughkeepsie, NY.
At The Huntington in Los Angeles, we were fortunate to have time to view the art. Imagine my surprise when I walked into one room, and found there were two Turners on display. What a treat for me. I was able to spend as much time as I wanted since there were not too many people there at the same time. When I’ve seen his work at other museums in New York, London, and Paris, the galleries are so crowded that you are not comfortable looking closely at his brushstrokes and use of paint. Not all of his subject matter appeals to me, but all of his paint handling does. I love the atmospheric qualities he creates, the layering of thin paints over and over each other. Looking closely, I can see the pentimenti of decisions he’s made over time. I learn more each time I study Turner’s work closely. Fifty years of painting and still learning.
The Grand Canal: Scene – A Street in Venice, c. 1837
Joseph Mallord William Turner
(British, 1774-1851)
Oil on canvas
These daily studio notes lead toward my 2026 solo exhibitions in New York City and Poughkeepsie, NY.
While we were in California, we spent a great deal of time in various museums and botanical gardens. “The Huntington is a world-renowned cultural and educational institution, that provides transformative experiences for a community of the curious”, states their website. “It was founded in 1919 by Henry E. and Arabella Huntington, it supports research and promotes public engagement through its expansive library, art, and botanical collections.” The Chinese and Japanese gardens were outstanding. We were fortunate to have time to also view their art collections. This particular piece grabbed our attention.
Division of Powers:
1. Legislative – 1. House of Representatives. 2. Senate
2. Executive- 1. The President of the US.
3. Judicial-1. Supreme Court 2. Interior Courts.
Each box clearly defines the structure of the United States democracy.
These daily studio notes lead toward my 2026 solo exhibitions in New York City and Poughkeepsie, NY.
Since the 1970s, I’ve been following the efforts of the Guerrilla Girls fighting for equality in the arts for women. I went to see the Guerrilla Girls exhibition at the Getty Center in LA the other day with Hubby Dave. He said he’d had a vague awareness of the group without being able to put them in a historical context. He knew they were addressing the issues of the devaluation of women in the arts in general, in sales, in pricing, in museums and in the acknowledgement of women’s history in the context of our culture. As a feminist himself, he’s very aware of the prejudice that women have and continue to endure. Our visit to this show together triggered great conversations over dinner.
Check out what the Guerrilla Girls found in these Old “Masterpieces”
These daily studio notes lead toward my 2026 solo exhibitions in New York City and Poughkeepsie, NY.
Award-Winning Northport Artist, Mary Ahern, has been selected for a six-week Solo Exhibition at the Locust Grove Historic Site in Poughkeepsie, NY
June 5, 2026 – September 15, 2026
Locust Grove Historic Site – Transverse Gallery for Contemporary Art
2683 South Road
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Viewing is Free: every day of the week from 10 AM to 5 PM
Set on a hill overlooking the scenic Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, New York, Locust Grove includes a historic estate, including art galleries, a museum, and a Nature Preserve with 200 acres of landscaped grounds and five miles of hiking trails
Located in their Visitors Center, the Transverse Gallery is dedicated to continuing the century-long tradition of displaying art by contemporary artists. Starting with Samuel Morse in the 1850s and continuing on with the Young family from 1895 through the 1970s, art was a central focus of the estate & its owners. Locust Grove carries on that appreciation for art today at the Transverse Gallery, with four solo exhibitions each year featuring selected artists.
Mary Ahern’s Artist Statement: In my garden, I cultivate both plants & artistic inspiration. My art bridges garden & gallery, inviting intimate observation of nature. Through my art, I embed hidden philosophies discovered in my garden’s contemplative spaces.
November 3 – 28, 2026
Centering in the Midst of Chaos
Multi-Media Exhibition
547 West 27th St
Suite 201
New York, NY 10001
Opening Reception: Thursday, November 5, 2026 from 6-8PM
Gallery Hours: Tue-Sat 12 to 6pm
Ceres Gallery is a feminist, not-for-profit alternative space in New York City dedicated to promoting contemporary women in the arts. Founded to expand opportunities for women artists, Ceres provides an inclusive exhibition space that raises public awareness and challenges the limited access women often face in commercial galleries.
November 20 – December 21, 2025
1200 NY-25A, Stony Brook, NY 11790
The Museum is open: Thursday: 11:30 am to 7:00 pm & Friday–Sunday: Noon to 5:00 pm
Reception: Thursday, November 20th from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m
The Long Island Museum and LIMarts are thrilled to present Common Ground, celebrating the vibrant creativity of our region’s artists.
For generations, LIM has served as a gathering place where people of all ages come together to experience the art, history, and culture that define our region. This year’s exhibition centers on the theme of Common Ground, an exploration of shared spaces, community, environment, and cultural connection.
Each artist was invited to reflect on what Common Ground means to them—whether it’s rooted in land, identity, gathering, or personal connection. The exhibition invites visitors to consider how we may share commonalities with one another and discover something new about ourselves along the way. While Long Island itself is our shared foundation, every artist brings their own story and perspective to life here.
LIMarts is a special initiative dedicated to supporting and showcasing the exceptional visual artists who call Long Island home—from Brooklyn to Montauk and beyond. This annual exhibition celebrates the diversity, creativity, and talent that make our community so extraordinary.
This artwork sparks a vital conversation that reflects the interconnectedness and delicate balance within both the microcosm of my garden and the macrocosm of the cosmos. These identifiable floral Images are glazed and intertwined with my abstract underpaintings inspired by the visuals of the universe.
By recognizing the delicate balance required for both terrestrial and celestial ecosystems to thrive, I aim to provide a visual context for understanding the essential balance necessary to sustain life’s intricate harmony across all scales – from the tiniest flower to the grandest galaxy.
Through this layered, evocative imagery, I invite viewers to pause, contemplate, and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the fragile yet resilient web of life that sustains our world and cosmos.
Juried into this dynamic exhibition by Joshua Ruff, Co-Director of the Long Island Museum of Art, is my oil painting, Phantasm – Coral Peony.
“Phantasm – Coral Sunset Peony”, a 36×36″ oil painting, is a vivid celebration of life’s vibrant energy inspired by the peonies that enchant my garden. Imagine a dynamic dance of colors—pink, yellow, and orange petals that swirl with a captivating grace, all harmoniously converging towards a lively green center. The energy in the petals encircling the center of the flower also represents the feeling humans have when they are moved by emotions. This piece is about celebrating movement and color, capturing the very essence of a flower in full bloom. It invites you to step into a world where every brushstroke is infused with the joy and wonder of nature’s beauty. I hope it inspires a moment of reflection and connection to the natural vibrancy all around us.
Phantasm – Coral Sunset. 36×36″ Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas.
This is a very interesting show to see. Very unusual and perfect for the Halloween season.
My work was juried into this “Imagination” exhibition but the other work in this show is very, very different in style. There are many excellent and imaginative works for you to see. Give yourself a treat and go to see this fascinating show.
Mills Pond Gallery, 660 New York 25A, St James, NY. Gallery Open, Wed-Fri, 10-4pm. Sat & Sun, 12-4pm
Market Art + Design returns for the fair’s eighth edition July 5 – 8, 2018 at The Bridgehampton Museum on Montauk Highway in the heart of the Hamptons. Download your VIP Pass now for access to the fair’s Opening Night Preview benefiting the East End’s renown Parrish Art Museum.
Join me at the ArtBlend Booth #403
Hours & Location
The Bridgehampton Museum – 2368 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton, NY
Thursday July 5, 2018
6:00pm to 10:00pm
Friday, July 6, 2018
11:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday, July 7, 2018
11:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday, July 8, 2018
12:00pm to 6:00pm
Market Art + Design 2018 will feature the best in art and design presented by 80 top galleries from around the world – making this July’s fair the biggest and most important to date. The 2018 Hamptons summer season will also see the expansion of Market Art + Design’s partnerships with The Wall Street Journal, Hamptons Cottages & Gardens, Artsy, Tesla, Art Money, Aperol, Jadot, and The Parrish Art Museum (the fair’s 2018 Beneficiary Partner), extending the fair’s reach into the Hamptons’s collecting community.
Preview the ArtBlend Show Catalog with my painting “Just Waiting – Free Spirit Rose Bud” which is one of the paintings I will have on display at the show.
Learn more about the Hamptons’ premier modern and contemporary art and design fair at ArtMarketHamptons.com
###