Gallery wall with three artworks: a stylized portrait of a woman with a floral face on the center, a circular painting of a woman with Ocean waves in the background on the left, and two pop art style comic strip images of women talking on the right.

CUrrent exhibitions

Event details

BEYOND FAMILIAR

Open Now — September 23

Tuesday through Saturday
9 am - 9 pm

Closing Reception & Artist Talk
September 13 • 5 pm

Jamaica Arts Center
161-04 Jamaica Ave

Jamaica, NY 11432
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Free admission

BEYOND FAMILIAR

Closes September 23 • Curated by: Wanda Best

This exhibition explores the vibrant and provocative world of Pop Art, a movement that emerged in the mid-20th century as a response to consumer culture and mass media landscape. The artists reject the current ideas of art and embrace bold colors of popular imagery. By incorporating everyday objects and images into their artworks, the artists challenged the traditional notion of art.

Artists: Adama Nanguin Coulibaly, Aisha Wilson, Alethia Brown, Celine Mai Seehase, Daphne Busby, Deshea M. Best, Eesha Suntai, Eric Grandison, Jocelyn Marie Goode, Julia Shaw, Natali Bravo Barbee, Reginald Rousseau, Sev Reverem, The Entropy AKA: Bianca Nandzik, Zahied Tony Mohammed.

A joyful woman with gray dreadlocks and glasses standing in an art gallery, wearing a black dress with sheer, polka-dotted sleeves, and smiling with her hand on her stomach.

ABOUT WANDA BEST

Wanda Best, Curator of Beyond Familiar, believes art is a way to interpret the world. In addition to her work with Jamaica Center for Arts and learning, Ms. Best is the founder of Art Transforms, a non-profit organization that uses art to educate, communicate, express social injustice, and healing. She champions art as a powerful, non-threatening medium for interpreting the world and addressing systemic injustices. Her recent curatorial highlights include exhibits surrounding environmental justice and domestic violence at Queens College Klapper Hall, Queens Lions Club, and the Cambria Heights Library.

  • The exhibition explores the movement’s (Pop Art) use of bright, saturated colors and bold graphic elements, as well as its perception of consumerism, advertising and mass media. Through a selection of artworks, this exhibition invites viewers to reconsider the boundaries of art and go beyond what is familiar to engage the spirit of Pop Art!”

    Wanda Best

JOIN US FOR AN ARTIST TALK

Get ready to dive deep into the creative process and gain insights into the artists inspirations in this closing reception and artist talk. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with the artistic community and expand your horizons.

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