The table isn’t set without a conversation piece! We’ve had the pleasure of placing artwork in some incredible dining rooms in 2024, and we’re excited to share a few of our favorites—each one a perfect example of why we’re thankful for art.
Xan Padron, West Village, NYC, Photograph on Aluminum, 47 x 60″
Each artwork at our gallery resonates uniquely with different people, reflecting aspects of their character and life experiences. We asked three of our art consultants to share one piece of art that best represents them and their personality — find out which pieces Ofri, Tara, and Chelsea relate to.
Two years ago I began practicing yoga, and it soon became an integral part of my life. What started as a curiosity quickly evolved into a passion for inversions and exploring challenging shapes. Much like the apparent calm demeanor of Perry the sloth, featured in Randal Ford’s photograph, yoga has taught me the art of slowing down, finding peace in stillness, and the value of taking on new perspectives.
While the photograph captures a still moment of Perry, in reality, he is quite the energetic sloth, which made photographing him a challenge according to Ford. This duality resonates with me, reflecting my own balance between stillness and energy, a balance I also find in my connection to nature and the outdoors. I’ve affectionately come to think of Perry as my spirit animal, embodying the perfect blend of calm and vitality, and representing my journey toward balance and self-discovery.
Randal Ford, Upside Down Sloth, Photograph on Aluminum, 48 x 48″
This piece deeply resonates with me. I feel that life is benevolent, that there is a hand that is greater than my own, that there is a beautiful grace and abundance that is offered daily… although there have been cold winds, hardship and snowy periods of solitude, and this is reflected within the piece as well. There is also a gravity.. the pull of the earth beneath the mystery, and a profound relationship between the two.
I find this piece represents my joy and interest in ideas, in understanding what’s beyond the noise, my fascination about time and our place in it, my deep love of silence (oh that teal sky!) … yet with feet firmly planted on the ground, in reality, immersed in the fullness of daily life.
Joseph Adolphe, A Message from Home No. 4, 76 X 80″
The aesthetic of this piece captures some aspects of my personality with its bright, yet calming color palette cascading down and ostensibly off the canvas. I like to maintain a positive outlook in life, and try to emulate that in everything I do. As I get older, I’ve accepted that I’m not as quick as I’d like to be; I complete tasks very much at my own steady pace. My slower pace allows me to stop and smell the roses, navigate life with an ease that gratitude brings and above all else, exude joy and love. At least, that’s the hope.
I think most of Allen Martin’s work exemplifies a sort of effortless layering of concentrated color that isn’t confined by the canvas, but rather allows light and raw areas to shine through.
Carly Allen Martin, You’ve Got the Love, Mixed Media on Panel, 60 x 50″
Throughout history, artists have been expressing themselves through mediums and techniques that showcase their skills. Gold leaf, encaustic wax, and porcelain are just a few of these historical crafts that are found in the contemporary works at Merritt Gallery.
Gold leafing dates back to the Egyptians who used it to adorn the tombs of Pharaohs. Ancient Grecian sculptors used it to decorate statues. The Japanese have used gold leaf as an ingredient in medicines and food. The gilders of Italy and Constantinople would use it to illuminate manuscript letters and borders, as well as halos on holy figures and heroes in paintings. Since the beginning, gold leaf has been used to adorn and honor important objects and people.
Both Takefumi Horiand Christopher Peter use gold leafing as a way of creating a layer of depth as well as giving the works an energy and sophistication that comes from that gold ornamentation.
Check out these contemporary uses of this medium below.
Takefumi Hori, Landscape No. 11 Tokyo, Mixed Media on Canvas, 24 x 24″
Christopher Peter, Born to Bloom XXIV, Mixed Media on Canvas, 48 x 60″
Encaustic Roman Egyptian (30 BCE-324 CE) Mummy Portraits, Walters Art Museum
Encaustic painting is an ancient art form that originated with Greek shipbuilders in 5th century BC to decorate warships. The art form saw significant use in the Fayum mummy portraits of Roman Egypt, where it was used to create lifelike portraits on coffins.
The word “enkaustikos” is Greek for “to burn in” and the technique involves layering beeswax, resin, and pigments, then fusing each layer together with a torch. There is both the hot wax method and a cold wax method. In the hot method, molten wax was combined with pigment then applied by brush. The cold method requires the wax to be combined with oil in order to make a paint like medium.
Jeff Ericksonuses the cold wax method in his work. He applies thin coats of oil pigments mixed with cold wax that allows the viewer to see through the translucent layers and gives his pieces a tranquility as shown below.
Jeff Erickson, On the Water XIII, Oil and Wax on Panel, 24 x 24″
A porcelain bottle from the Hebei Province, China, 11th–early 12th century, Freer Gallery of Art
Originally used to make wares solely for the use of the imperial court, Porcelain was invented through a long, slow process over centuries that began about 2,000 years ago in China. It is a ceramic material made by heating clay in a kiln to extremely high temperatures. This combined with the right mixture of elements, produces a ceramic that is strong, translucent, and vitrified, or impervious to water. Porcelain objects can be made on a potter’s wheel or poured into moulds and are then fired in the kiln to set their shapes and vitrify the clay body. Glazes and paint can be added for decoration to add color and painted patterns.
Lucrecia Waggoneruses this medium as the bearer of peace and elegance that her works add to any space.
Lucrecia Waggoner, A Ray of Sunshine, Natural Porcelain and Moonleaf Gold
Each artwork at our gallery resonates uniquely with different people, reflecting aspects of their character and life experiences. We asked three of our art consultants to share one piece of art that best represents them and their personality — find out which pieces Rachel, Patti, and Betsy relate to.
I am a Gemini and truly feel there are two sides to my personality…people close to me would agree! There is the serious side, the worried mother, the caring wife, and hard working and sometimes stressed business owner, but right under the surface is the goofy, adventurous and sometimes a little sassy woman. I try to find a balance between those two people and I ALWAYS try to remember it’s important to be both of those people.
The man in the suit reminds me of the first side of me, but the pink panther is right there too, always ready for action!
Ariel Vargassal, Pink Nostalgia, Acrylic on canvas, 48 x 60 inches
Dennis Campay’s The Walkers really floats my boat! I’m drawn to Campay’s paintings for their rich, evocative images that often blend memory and imagination. His works typically feature intricate architectural elements, lush interiors, and symbolic images all combined in a warm and inviting palette. I love that his style combines a sense of whimsy with a deep emotional resonance, creating compositions that feel both familiar and yet dreamlike.
The attention to detail and magical landscapes have a sophisticated feel without being stuffy or unapproachable—rather they invite me in to enjoy this created world.
Dennis Campay, The Walkers, Mixed media on panel, 30 x 40 inches
My family of origin is made up of five, as is my own family. This reminds me of “us” in the form of bunnies. Slonem’s twist on the traditional family portrait brings me joy. Each bunny holds a different expression and it makes me happy to see this bunny family together. My beloved childhood pet was a Dutch rabbit named Fluffy, which also contributes to my connection with these paintings.
The black on white painting is Slonem’s classic bunny composition, and has inspired numerous variations, and the fact that his bunnies are named is endearing; you should take a peek at “Barnaby,” or “Mary Queen of Scots.” These paintings are more complex than they appear, as the artist’s process is unique.
Our gallery walls are now graced with fresh works from two extraordinary painters: Meredith Pardue and Wendy Westlake. These pieces are brimming with energy, color, and that indescribable magic that makes abstract art so captivating.
Meredith Pardue
Meredith Pardue, Gestural Study of Presence and Absence I, Mixed Media on Canvas, 36 x 36 inches
Pardue’s work is a celebration of the natural world, imbued with a sense of organic movement and fluidity. Her pieces evoke botanical and geological elements, inviting viewers to lose themselves in the delicate interplay of colors and forms. Each bold shape and delicate line in Pardue’s work tells a story, capturing the essence of nature in a way that feels both familiar and entirely new.
Meredith Pardue, Flying Away, Mixed Media on Canvas, 84 x 60 inches
Flying Away captures your attention with its bold use of color and dynamic composition. The piece features a striking contrast between dark and light elements, with a cascading arrangement of organic shapes rendered in a vivid palette of reds, yellows, greens, blues, and purples. The colors blend and overlap in a way that suggests both movement and growth, as if the forms are in a state of constant evolution.
Meredith Pardue, Celestial Arabesque XV, Mixed Media on Canvas, 84 x 60 inches
This ethereal piece Celestial Arabesque XV features variations in texture—from smooth and velvety to rough and granular—that give the painting an irresistible tactile quality. The painting’s title hints at a cosmic or celestial inspiration, suggesting a graceful dance or movement in the heavens.
Wendy Westlake
Wendy Westlake, Mountain Walk, Acrylic on Canvas, 54 x 72 inches
Westlake’s paintings are a masterful exploration of shape, color, and composition. The subtle transitions between colors, careful layering of shapes, and use of negative space create a sense of depth and dimensionality, inviting viewers to explore the intricate relationships between the elements. Whether you are drawn to the earthy, grounded tones or the bright, playful colors, Westlake’s art offers a serene yet dynamic visual experience.
Wendy Westlake, Point of Departure, Acrylic on Canvas, 75 x 60 inches
In Point of Departure, Westlake shifts to a more subdued palette of earth tones and soft grays. The composition is grounded by the presence of solid, almost architectural forms that interlock and intersect. This painting evokes a sense of quiet contemplation, with the muted colors and gentle transitions between shapes creating a meditative atmosphere.
Wendy Westlake, Two For The Money, Acrylic on Canvas, 60 x 75 inches
Featuring a vibrant array of blues, greens, pinks, and yellows, Two For The Money creates a sense of fluidity and motion. This piece exudes a sense of joy and lightness, making it a vibrant addition to any space.
See Them In Person
There’s something incredibly special about experiencing art in person. You can truly appreciate the texture of the paint, the scale of the canvas, and the nuances of color and light when you stand before these works.
At Merritt Gallery, we know that on a hot summer day, one of the best places to be (besides our gallery) is in a nice cool museum! We rounded up some of the must-see exhibitions this summer in the areas surrounding each of our galleries.
Explore some of the most compelling paintings by Claude Monet in a 360-degree art exhibit. Through a unique storytelling experience and cutting-edge technology, Monet: The Immersive Experience redefines the concept of museums. Learn about the artist, his secrets, and his art like never before.
Dates: Until October 2024
National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington DC
Visionary artists reimagine the past, present alternate realities, and inspire audiences to create different futures. During the past few years, our world has been transformed by a global pandemic, advocacy for social reform, and political division. How have these extraordinary times inspired artists? Works by the 28 artists featured in New Worlds: Women to Watch 2024 explore these ideas from perspectives that shift across geographies, cultural viewpoints, and time.
Franco-Senegalese artist Alexandre Diop uses discarded objects to create work that raises questions about sociopolitical, cultural and gender issues. Drawing inspiration from his European and African roots, he explores the legacies of colonialism and diaspora while tackling universal themes of ancestry, suffering, and historical violence. The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue featuring an essay by scholar Mara Niang and a conversation between Diop and Hans Ulrich Obrist, alongside a selection of color photographs.
The summative career retrospective of one of the most prolific and boundary-breaking artists of our time. Born in Baltimore in 1948, Scott grapples with profound social, historical, racial, economic, and personal challenges that concern society at large in dazzling beadwork, sculpture, textiles, jewelry, printmaking, and performance.
This exhibit examines the ways that 19th-century North American artists drew inspiration from a variety of places and cultures at home and abroad, whether the Hudson Valley, Japan, or an ancient town outside of Rome. Visitors will experience 16 works featuring paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and silver.
This ongoing exhibit features exquisitely tender testimonial embroideries created by Holocaust survivor, Esther Nisenthal Krinitz. Esther’s thirty-six, intricate needlework and fabric collages depict how then 15-year-old Esther and her younger sister survived the Nazi invasion of Poland. Her art powerfully illustrates her story of survival as a child and her uncanny creative intelligence to have done so.
This exhibit features recent works by designers such as Jomo Tariku, Cheick Diallo, Mac Collins, and Stefan Sagmeister along with those of design pioneers like Gaetano Pesce, Ron Arad, and Gijs Bakker. Each of these chairs is a testament to the ingenuity of their designers, who use new materials, new technologies, and new sources of inspiration to push the boundaries of seating design.
Motivated by both a lack of representation of Appalachian art in museum collections, Layers of Liberty: Philadelphia and the Appalachian Environment examines themes that relate directly to Philadelphia and rural Appalachian Pennsylvania, referencing the ecology of early America, the establishment of networks of transportation like the railroad and the commodification of natural resources, and the pastoral relationship to the environment that inspired Philadelphia artists.
This exhibition tells the story of Andrew Wyeth’s focus on the fragile rhythms and intimate dramas of plant life. The specimens Andrew found and depicted on walks and wanders in landscapes he knew deeply spoke to him of compelling forms, colors, and dramas unfolding in miniature. Wyeth developed a painting practice grounded in time spent alone outdoors, steeping himself in the two distinct ecosystems that defined his life: mid-coast Maine and Pennsylvania’s Brandywine Valley.
America’s landscape is incredibly diverse and provides inspiration for many of the artists in our galleries. See how these 6 artists choose to portray the regions that influence them.
AUDRA WEASER
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Audra Weaser was raised in Southern California and was inspired early on by the beautiful seascapes. Her work evokes images such as light shining in from gathering weather, mystical mornings on the water, and foggy glances across the bay.
Audra Weaser, Warm Tides, Mixed Media on Panel 56 × 60 in.
CHARLIE BLUETT
NORTHERN VERMONT
Charlie Bluett’s studio is located in Vermont, a part of the endearing and inspirational North East Kingdom of the United States. His artwork is driven by his passion for nature and its light and beauty as well as the ebb and flow of everyday.
Charlie Bluett, Life, Acrylic on Canvas, 60 × 70 in.
SHERRI BELASSEN
ARIZONA
Though she was raised in Indianapolis, Sherri Belassennow lives and works in Phoenix, fulfilling her desire to “paint in the sun.” Through her warm color palette and layered technique, Belassen brings the the essence of the Arizona desert into her work.
Sherri Belassen, Desert Moon, Oil on Canvas, 48 × 84 in.
HUNT SLONEM
HAWAII
Hunt Slonem spent part of his childhood in O’ahu, due to his father’s naval career. The island scenery fueled his fascination with exotica and has influenced his entire career. Slonem associates the tropical birds that frequent his paintings with Hawaii’s spirituality and positive energy.
Hunt Slonem, Blue Front Amazon, Oil on Canvas, 48 × 48 in.
MARSHALL NOICE
WYOMING
Marshall Noice has a background as a black and white photographer, and even worked as Ansel Adams’ assistant for a summer. Noice eventually switched from photography to painting and from greyscale to vivid color, but a love for the western American landscape has remained his most important influence.
Marshall Noice, Cool Over Warm II, Oil on Canvas, 36 × 36 in.
XAN PADRON
NEW YORK CITY
There is great variety in the cities and countries depicted inPadron’s work, but he is most passionate about capturing his adopted hometown, New York City. Many of New York’s vibrant neighborhoods have been featured in his photographs, highlighting the diversity in architecture, style, and people across the city.
Xan Padron, East Village, NYC, Photograph on Aluminum, 47 × 60 in.
I feel so lucky to be the gallery assistant at Chevy Chase. To handle and present this wonderful collection everyday is a gift. Whether facilitating the efforts of art consultants or assisting our skilled art handler, I am constantly engaging with beautiful pieces that tell such interesting stories.
Art has always been an avenue I love to wander down and as a cinephile I enjoy picturing myself in the captivating scenes that artists create. Here are a few works by artists that I love to engage with.
Carol O’Malia, Throw Out Your Cares, Oil on canvas, 30 x 72 inches
Carol O’Malia | Throw Out Your Cares
This serene piece by Carol O’Malia is a unique still life that pulls me in like a cozy bedscape should. As the title suggests, it leaves me feeling luxurious and carefree. The way she paints her whites gives an incredible crispness to the piece and allows for such detailed movement in her fabrics. I could dive in and relax with these pillows forever.
Meredith Pardue, Celestial Arabesque III, Mixed media on canvas, 72 x 60 inches
Meredith Pardue | Celestial Arabesque III
Meredith Pardue creates pieces that dance upon the wall. Seeing this piece in person for the first time allowed me to fully understand the title. It is heavenly with flowing organic shapes and stunning texture that pulls me in and places me in an underwater scene and I am mesmerized watching the shells glisten as they float around. I always look forward to seeing new pieces by Pardue in person because it brings them to life.
David Burdeny, Koi and Sakura Petals, Kyoto, Japan, Photograph on aluminum, 44 x 55 inches
David Burdeny | Koi and Sakura Petals, Kyoto, Japan
Burdeny’s photographs were some of the first pieces that spoke to me when I started at the gallery. The world he sees is the world I want to live in. His vivid colors and worldly subjects reminds me of a Wes Anderson film and allows me to create my own narrative. I start to hear the sounds and smell the aromas of a location that I may or may not have visited. David Burdeny’s photographs give their viewers an immersive experience unlike any other.
An entryway should set the tone for the rest of your home as well as give an inviting welcome to anyone who crosses the threshold. A beautiful piece of artwork paired with elegant design is a great way to make a first impression and introduce the personality of your space.
Take a look at some of our recent entryway art installs below that present a unique introduction.
Xan Padron, Madrid, Photograph on Paper, 46.25 x 31.25 inches