Nearly 100 works of art will be on display during Allied Artists of America's 112th Annual Juried Exhibition,including a range of works on paper including oil, watercolor and pastel, as well as three-dimensional sculptural media and more. The in-person show will be held at the Reading Public Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania, from September 13 through January 11, 2026. An online version of the exhibition is available on www.alliedartistsofamerica.org where it will remain for a year from September 1, 2025, to September 1, 2026.
Billy Seccombe, October Sky, oil on canvas, 30 x 40 in.Among the artwork juried into the 2025 show is Billy Seccombe’s October Sky, inspired by the work of Andrew Wyeth. “This painting explores the emotional bond between a mother and child beneath a looming October sky,” Seccombe explains. “Using a high horizon and the rule of thirds, the composition emphasizes isolation, placing the figures small and distant in a Virginia field. I aimed to capture a timeless moment, free of modern elements, inspired by impressionist works. My process focused on developing wild grass textures and carefully rendering the Victorian patterns of the mother’s dress. The dark blue-gray clouds suggest an impending autumn storm, enhancing the painting’s mood and atmosphere while capturing a quiet, reflective tone.”
Lee Alban, Restoring the Avery, oil on linen, 30 x 40 in.
Another painting in the show is a portrait in watercolor by Kathy Caudill titled Maryanne’s Hat, depicting an older woman in a sun hat. “I first met Maryanne at the South Carolina State Fair where she and her sister were exhibitors demonstrating pioneer living in the 1800s. I knew from the moment I first saw her that she would make a great model for one of my watercolor paintings,” says Caudill. “Maryanne graciously agreed to allow me to do a painting of her, and since that time she has become a new friend.”
Linda Harris Reynolds, 2025, oil on linen, 40 x 30 in.
Lee Alban’s oil Restoring the Avery depicts a trio of women working in a railyard. The painting came about after a photographer that Alban works with suggested he do a photoshoot featuring women who worked in railyards, posing in Rosie the Riveter style clothing with 1940s props. “My paintings drew the attention of a group called ‘Ladies of Steam,’ based in Minnesota. They are involved in the restoration and operation of steam driven tractors,” Alban explains. “They showcase their talents annually at a huge Labor Day event called the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion…The huge tractor in the painting is a 1911 vintage Avery. The composition pays tribute to the passion and talent of the Ladies of Steam.”
Kathy Caudill, Maryanne’s Hat, watercolor on paper, 18¼ x 15¾ in.
The 2025 Juried Exhibition will offer more than $45,000 in cash prizes to artists, including the $5,000 Audrey Love Award; $6,000 for the Allied Artists Gold Medal of Honor; $4,000 for the Silver Medal of Honor; and $3,000 for the Bronze Medal of Honor. Allied Artists of America’s Gold Medal of Honor recipient for this year’s exhibition is portraitist Linda Harris Reynolds. —
Allied Artists of America’s 112th Annual Juried Exhibition
September 13, 2025-January 11, 2026
Reading Public Museum • 500 Museum Road, Reading, PA 19611
www.alliedartistsofamerica.org
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