Historic hotels, often marvels of architecture, design and decoration themselves, have long housed museum-quality art collections and commissioned murals by some of the most prominent figures in American art history. Maxfield Parrish’s The Pied Piper at San Francisco’s Palace Hotel and his Old King Cole mural at the St. Regis New York, both completed in the early 1900s, are two well-known examples. Today, modern hotels are keeping the tradition alive, as art-centric hotels are popping up around the country, filling their lobbies, restaurants and rooms with contemporary art, and hosting exhibitions in designated gallery spaces.
The Washington Mall, Washington, D.C.
For our Art Lover’s Guide to Collecting Fine Art in Washington D.C. & the Mid-Atlantic States, we are taking you on a tour of the region, so no matter where your art adventure takes you within this large swath of the eastern United States, you know where to stay to have a truly immersive art experience.
There is some debate about what constitutes the Mid-Atlantic Region, but for our purposes we are going to focus on Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and lower New Jersey. New Jersey and Pennsylvania form the northern limits of the region; with Delaware and Maryland bridging the north with the most southern states of Virginia and West Virginia. Washington, D.C., while not a state, is often viewed as the core city of the Mid-Atlantic, although the metropolises of Philadelphia and Baltimore also fall within its borders.
Exterior of Hotel Zena, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Part hotel and part art gallery, Hotel Zena is focused on showcasing works that celebrate women. Its art collection titled Her contains pieces created by Washington, D.C. artists, including a mural of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and a sequined “gown” made of 8,000 protest buttons in support of women’s rights. “Zena’s celebration of inclusivity and empowerment from a female perspective is interpreted by each of our participating artists,” notes the hotel. “All have been purposefully commissioned to convey a simple message of unity. We welcome you to delve into our art book to learn more about each piece of powerful art showcased at the hotel.”With two locations in D.C., the Royal Sonesta Washington is part of a hotel group known for their commissioned art collections. Artwork at the Capitol Hill location celebrates the city’s beauty and history. A metal sculpture inspired by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s collar adorns the wall behind the front desk, light fixtures mimic cherry blossom branches and another piece references Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Interior view of Lancaster Arts Hotel, Landcaster, PA.
Pennsylvania
For a lodging experience steeped in history, consider Historic Hotel Bethlehem in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Built in 1922 in a town established in 1741, the hotel is home to eight larger-than-life murals painted by George Gray in 1936. Gray was the founder of the U.S. Coast Guard Art Program during World War II and Vietnam, and while he painted hundreds of murals in hotels across the country, Historic Hotel Bethlehem is the only one that retains its complete set, which depict scenes from Bethlehem’s colonial history, and landed Hotel Bethlehem among Historic Hotels of America’s Top 25 Most Magnificent Art Collections list.Also on that list, with a greater focus on contemporary art, is Lancaster Arts Hotel in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Built in 1882, its historic brick and timber walls are adorned with more than $300,000 worth of original fine art including paintings and sculpture, and a rotating showcase of nearly 20 local artists on display at any given time.
Hotel Du Pont, Wilmington, DE.
Delaware
While not a specifically art-focused hotel, The Inn at Montchanin Village, also a Historic Hotel of America, is situated in the heart of the Brandywine Valley, between New York and Washington, D.C. Just 10 minutes northwest of Wilmington in Montchanin, Delaware, the wood and stone farmhouse provides easy access to Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library; Longwood Gardens and Conservatories, Hagley Museum, Brandywine Museum of Art, Delaware Art Museum, Delaware Museum of Natural History, and Nemours Mansion and Gardens.Established in 1913, Hotel Du Pont, an Italian Renaissance landmark, is a historic option in Wilmington, noted for its Gilded Age architecture and opulent interior design. If you prefer a sleeker, more modern aesthetic, The Quoin Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel also in Wilmington, has been curated to delight all of the senses. With a Michelin-starred restaurant and meticulously designed interior filled with custom furnishings and artwork, the Quoin is a perfect jumping off point to explore the area’s rich, cultural offerings.
Lord Baltimore Hotel lobby, Baltimore, MD.
Maryland
Lord Baltimore Hotel (affectionately called the “LB”) is home to the Rubell Family Collection, one of the largest private contemporary art collections in North America. Since Mera and Don Rubell acquired their first piece in the mid-60s, their collection has grown to over 7,000 works by more than 1,000 artists. It is lauded for its artistic and geographic diversity, as well as its holdings of seminal artists. Abstract paintings by Herbert Hamak hang throughout the lobby and mezzanine, a Suzan Etkin multimedia piece is on display in the hotel’s fitness center, and the rooms feature examples of both contemporary and historic artwork. The hotel also hosts a quarterly exhibition series called In Good Taste in its bakery, where it showcases a local artist and selects a piece for its permanent The Tribute to Good Taste Exhibition.
Omni Homestead Resort, Hot Springs, VA. Courtesy Virginia Tourism Corporation.
Virginia
The art collection at the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia, includes nearly 150 pieces of original art, including a notable John James Audubon collection of first-edition prints published in The Birds of America between 1827 and 1838, that hangs in the main dining room. The resort also displays original artwork by artists including oil paintings of the Old Course, a historic golf course on the property, by Andras Bality; 20 pieces from W.H. Lee Baskerville, whose painting of the Jefferson Pools can be found in the hotel lobby; 23 realist-style portraits from Paul Bertholet, depicting the presidents who visited the hotel between 1789 and 2009; and four works by plein air artist Ed Hatch, whose work depicts Virginia’s countryside and can be viewed within the Warm Springs Pools Gallery.For a more contemporary experience, head to The Virginian Lynchburg in Lynchburg, Virginia, where a suite of paintings by contemporary artist Kevin Chadwick was
commissioned to complement the hotel’s Art Deco architecture and interior color palette. The four paintings, together spanning 16 feet, pay homage to the style of the 1920s and depict notable Lynchburg residents. Guests can also purchase art in a rotating gallery space.
Tygert Hotel lobby, Elkins, WV.
West Virginia
After the renovation of a historic structure in the heart of Appalachia, the Tygert Hotel in Elkins, West Virginia, opened in 2024 with 56 uniquely styled rooms, an upscale restaurant, and a mix of original character and modern charm. The hotel has gained renown for its Lost Towns/Lost Communities art installation, which is spread through the hallways and guest rooms, and features works by West Virginia artists, with many of them available for purchase.
Molly Pitcher Inn, Red Bank, NJ.
New Jersey
Although its Central New Jersey location is borderline part of the Mid-Atlantic Region, we’d be remiss not to mention The MC Hotel, a classy, contemporary lodging option in Montclair, New Jersey, that touts itself as “Montclair’s arts-focused hotel.” Original artwork fills the lobby, guestrooms, restaurants, public spaces and Circle Squared Gallery, where rotating exhibitions of work by local artists are held. Its permanent collection includes Siona Benjamin’s Shangri-La and Ruben Toledo’s 50-foot mural in the Allegory Restaurant inspired by local flora and fauna, as well as works by Barbara Syrenka and Isabel Toledo. There is in fact so much art through the building, the hotel has a custom scavenger hunt to encourage guests to discover the full collection.
Options further south, and on the water, include the Ocean Club Hotel in Cape May, New Jersey, a charming town with a deep artistic legacy that lives on today, and the Oyster Point Hotel in Red Bank, where a new exhibit of work by local artists is installed every two months and displayed on the hotel’s first and second floors. For a historic experience in Red Bank, explore Molly Pitcher Inn, a 1928 hotel located on the banks of the Navesink River.
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Barbara Nuss
Annapolis, MD
barbaranuss@verizon.net
www.barbaranussfineart.com
Barbara Nuss is an award-winning representational oil painter whose work is inspired by the enduring character of America’s rural landscapes, historic towns and familiar places. Whether painting weathered barns, winding country roads, peaceful shorelines or neighborhood streets, she is drawn to subjects that reflect history, continuity and the passage of time.
Barbara Nuss, August Evening, oil on linen, 16 x 28 inGrowing up in her grandparents’ Victorian home instilled in Barbara a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, antiques and the stories carried by everyday places. That early influence continues to shape her paintings today. Rather than searching for dramatic scenery, she looks for moments when light transforms an ordinary scene into something memorable—a fleeting glimpse that suggests a deeper connection to the landscape and the people who have lived there.
Working primarily from life and her own reference material, Barbara begins with careful observation, but the finished painting becomes more than a record of a place. It becomes a reflection of memory, experience and the quiet realization that some things endure even as time moves on. Collectors often tell her that her paintings remind them of meaningful places from their own lives—a response she treasures.
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Betty Huang
Easton, MD
betty@studiobartgallery.com
bettyartist.com
Award-winning artist Betty Huang creates luminous oil paintings that invite viewers into moments of beauty, tranquility and emotional connection. Whether portraying the quiet majesty of the Eastern Shore, the charm of a European café or landscapes inspired by her travels, Huang’s paintings are distinguished by their expressive brushwork, radiant light and rich color harmonies. Her work bridges realism and impressionism, capturing not only the appearance of a scene but also its mood and enduring spirit.
Betty Huang, Sunset Over the Marsh, oil on lien canvas board, 8 x 16 in. Betty Huang, Eastern Shore Sunset, oil on lien canvas board, 12 x 24 in.
Huang believes that “art is a lifelong journey of passion, discovery and learning.” Each painting is an exploration of light, atmosphere and the emotional resonance of place. Through thoughtful composition and confident brushwork, she transforms everyday moments into timeless visual experiences that encourage viewers to slow down, reflect and immerse themselves in the scene.
The two featured works—Eastern Shore Sunset and Sunset Over the Marsh—illustrate the breadth of her artistic vision. They also reveal Huang’s deep appreciation for the landscapes of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where glowing skies, shimmering reflections and expansive marshes convey a sense of peace, wonder and quiet contemplation.
In addition to her work as a painter, Huang is the owner of Studio B Art Gallery in historic Easton, Maryland. A former president of the Working Artists Forum, she has played a significant role in fostering the arts through exhibitions, workshops, mentoring artists and creating opportunities that strengthen the regional arts community.
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Chris Rapa Fine Art
550 Houcksville Road S. Hampstead, MD 21074
(980) 297-1336
chrisrapastudio@gmail.com
chrisrapa.com
Chris Rapa is an American painter, living amidst the rolling hills and farms of Carroll County, Maryland. Her contemporary impressionist work ranges from still life and landscape to interior spaces washed in natural light. She works in oil, gouache and mixed media, inspired by the way color and light transform the commonplace into something extraordinary. Meaning is at the heart of her creative process as she seeks to weave emotion, intention and narrative into every piece. Whether through luminous landscapes or vignettes of flowers and treasured objects, her art is driven by a desire to create connection. Rapa strives to make work that pleases the eye, engages the viewer and opens a meaningful dialogue.
Chris Rapa, No Place Like Home, oil on panel, 18 x 21 in.
Exhibiting in national juried shows, and competing in plein air events throughout the country, Rapa has received numerous awards and has been featured in national art publications, including Plein Air Magazine and American Art Collector magazine. The artist is a Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society and American Women Artists. She also serves on the board of the American Impressionist Society and is president of the Washington Society of Landscape Painters.
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Jean Schwartz
McLean, VA
www.jeanschwartzfineart.com
“Painting for me is all about light and atmosphere. Those are the true subjects of my paintings as it is with those elements that I create a mood and hope to make an emotional connection with the viewer,” says artist Jean Schwartz. “I find those atmospheric moments in nature the most inspiring, mysterious and meditative, however, I also respond to the special light and energy of cities. I suppose it is the changing light that can transform a single scene into many moods that keeps me engaged.”
Jean Schwartz, Early Light, Ile de la Cite, oil on linen, 36 x 48 in. Jean Schwartz, Lake Reflections, oil on linen panel, 16 x 20 in.
Schwartz is a native of New Jersey but has spent most of her life in Northern Virginia. Always loving to draw and paint as a child, she decided she wanted to be an artist at an early age. Her home was not far from New York City, which gave her access to all of the museums and galleries the city has to offer. She earned a bachelor of art degree from Upsala College in New Jersey with a major in fine art and, after graduation, studied art in Paris for a year.
After returning home, her artwork continued while working first at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and, after a move to Washington, D.C., at the National Gallery of Art. Having daily access to masterpieces she found herself influenced by the Luminist painters, an off-shoot of the Hudson River School, American Tonalists and Abstract Expressionists such as Rothko and Motherwell.
Schwartz is a member of the Washington Society of Landscape Painters, the Salmagundi Club, as well as several other prestigious national art organizations.
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Jacalyn Beam
Centerville, DE
jacalynbeam@mac.com
www.jacalynbeam.com
Jacalyn Beam was born and raised in the Brandywine Valley, which is known for its lush landscapes, rivers, historical architecture, and rich lineage of artists including the Wyeth family, Howard Pyle and Frank Schoonover. Beam typically paints in plein air, which she believes is the best choice for expressing a love of the land on canvas.
“I paint outdoors because the world is rich with beauty, and it is the optimal way to see the subtleties of light and shadow, atmospheric perspective and real colors,” she says.
Top: Jacalyn Beam, Walking to Kuerner Farm, oil on linen panel, 14 x 18 in. Jacalyn Beam, Happy Garden, oil on linen panel, 11 x 14 in. Bottom: Jacalyn Beam, First Blush, oil on linen panel, 14 x 18 in.
Much of Beam’s work depicts the area around her home, including iconic scenes of the Brandywine that artists have painted throughout history. During a Washington Society of Landscape Painters plein air event, Beam painted Kuerner Farm, a historic landmark and favorite subject of Andrew Wyeth. Beam is also inspired by area sites like the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, the Hagley Museum and the mills along the Brandywine River where she paints in all seasons. “Winter is one of my favorite times of the year because, as Andrew Wyeth put it, ‘you can feel the bone structure of the landscape,’” Beam shares.
Beam also paints when traveling, often returning to Carmel, California, to paint the Monterey Peninsula, as generations of fine artists have done before her.
Beam is recognized in numerous books and national magazines, and her paintings hang in galleries across the country. In 2026, a monograph of her paintings was published and is now available at the Brandywine Museum of Art, the Delaware Art Museum and on her website. She is a member of the American Impressionist Society, California Art Club, Washington Society of Landscape Painters and Oil Painters of America.
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Jill Banks
The Artists’ Atelier
756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066
(703) 403-7435
jill@jillbanks.com
www.jillbanks.com
From a first glance of Jill Banks’ work, it’s not easy to discern where the award-winning impressionist oil painter calls home. Her plein air landscapes and the studio pieces they inspire paint their own picture of a wandering adventurer.
Banks travels to paint. This year, she was among a select group of artists invited to several prestigious plein air competitions around the country including Easton Plein Air in Maryland, a premier juried event where she won third place for her work If Boats Could Talk.
Banks also takes personal painting trips, capturing life on canvas wherever she goes. This June she set up her easel in the lavender fields and towns of Provence, France.
Top: Jill Banks, Colorado Colors, oil, 24 x 24 in. Jill Banks, Flower Power, oil, 30 x 24 in. Bottom: Jill Banks, Purple in Provence, oil, 18 x 24 in.
Banks’ studio Artists’ Atelier in Great Falls, Virginia, is open to the public and she welcomes visitors who would like a personalized tour. One of Banks’ favorite parts of her “job” is meeting collectors and enthusiasts of her work, face to face.
“I paint what I love, and I just love a lot,” says Banks, whose wide-ranging subjects include urban landscapes, animals, people, interiors and still lifes.
Banks’ other awards include Best in Show in both the American Impressionist Society and National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society’s online exhibitions, and an Honorable Mention in the Art Renewal Center’s International ARC Salon.
In September, Banks is participating in the Washington Society of Landscape Painters’ Sense of Place exhibition in Easton, Maryland; and Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show. In October she will open her doors for the Great Falls Studio Tour. Visit the artist’s website for a full schedule of events and studio hours.
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Kim Hall
Richmond, VA
(804) 514-7941
kimbroughhall@gmail.com
www.kimhallstudio.com
Kim Hall is a nationally recognized contemporary impressionist painter, working mostly in oils and gouache. She currently lives in Richmond, Virginia, and maintains studios in both Richmond and Montross, Virginia.
Kim Hall, The Sunflower Field, oil, 20 x 20 in.
Her work is a joyful reaction to those everyday scenes such as the light coming through the window or any path she comes across. Her intent is for the work to be as much about the paint as it is the subject and for the viewer to enjoy their own interpretation.
Kim has been selected for many national and international plein air competitions and shows. She has a bachelor degree in fine art from George Mason University and continued studies from the Corcoran School of Art.
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Peter Swift
Rockville, MD
pswift73@icloud.com
www.peterswiftartstudio.com
IG: peter_swift_art
FB: peter.swift.563
Why are Peter Swift’s paintings always symmetrical? “My wife is Chinese,” he explains. “For years, we have belonged to a local group which meets regularly to do Taijiquan exercises. Symmetry and balance, dynamic harmony, Ying and Yang have become fundamental to everything we do.”
Peter Swift, Running Shoes, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 60 in. Peter Swift, Salt Shakers, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 60 in.
Swift begins with simple objects, the forgettable objects which we see every day but never see at all. His biggest influences have been Louise Nevelson, Martin Puryear and Andy Goldsworthy. Following in the footsteps of these iconic artists, Swift’s goal is to create laconic, resonant symmetries.
Most of Swift’s work features circles, because he believes the human brain has a deep psychological connection to circles. “Every circle,” he says, “is more than the sum of its parts. It conveys harmony, unity, completion and wholeness. Symmetry is a fundamental, underlying principle in art. However, during the past century, symmetry has been a factor for the most part only in abstract art, such as the work of Josef Albers and Frank Stella. My work is unique in that I arrange realistically painted objects into symmetrical designs.”
More of Swift’s work can be seen on the website of the Seven Bridges Foundation at www.sevenbridges.org. Swift is represented by Touchstone Gallery in Washington, D.C.
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Lockhouse Gallery
17 W. Potomac Street, Brunswick, MD 21716
(301) 969-6676, kim@lockhousegallery.com
www.lockhousegallery.com
Lockhouse Gallery opened in May 2025 and quickly established itself in the regional art scene. Located in the historic town of Brunswick, Maryland, near the Potomac River and the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal, the gallery is a convenient destination for collectors from Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. The gallery represents 31 fine artists, primarily painters, alongside a select group of sculptors, metalsmiths, and woodworkers.
From top: Lockhouse Gallery, View of Lambs Knoll, oil on canvas, 20 x 24 in., by Walter Bartman Lockhouse Gallery, Loyal Companions, oil on canvas, 24 x 36 in., by Rana Geralis. Photo of Lockhouse Gallery.
Many of the painters studied under influential teacher and mentor Walter Bartman, whom the gallery also represents. The roster balances nationally recognized plein air painters with emerging talent across diverse genres. This inclusion of younger artists and varying genres brings a fresh, distinct perspective to the exhibitions.
Gallery owner Kimberly Yourick is a painter, metalsmith, and a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, School of Fine Arts. She curates the gallery's multi-genre exhibitions with the intent to provide something to suit all collectors’ tastes. The artwork spans realism, impressionism, neo-expressionism, folk, primitive, contemporary, and abstract art, ranging from miniatures to large-scale pieces. The gallery is gaining a reputation for its interesting and highly talented collection of art and artists.
Lockhouse Gallery operates on a unique model that sets it apart from traditional galleries. It emphasizes a warm and welcoming space, accessible pricing, a low-pressure environment, and salon-style hanging that maximizes the variety of work on display. The gallery also hosts regular engaging community events, including artist talks, live demonstrations and workshops.
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Lynn Mehta
Stephenson, Virginia
lynn@lynnmehta.com
www.lynnmehta.com
Whether painting the rocky coast of Maine, the sunlit shores of Spain, or the quiet farms of Virginia, Lynn Mehta is drawn to places where light, atmosphere and texture tell the story. Inspired by the world around her, she believes that art creates a universal connection. She paints the subjects that capture her imagination and invite closer observation—weathered farm buildings, old boats, the gesture of a figure, vibrant flowers, expansive vistas, blue mountains, quiet rivers and the crashing surf.
Lynn Mehta, Home Grown, oil, 8 x 10 in.
Working primarily in oils, she embraces the medium’s fluidity to explore color, composition and the movement of light. Using brushes and palette knives interchangeably and intuitively, she creates paintings that balance spontaneity with thoughtful design, drawing viewers in both from a distance and upon closer inspection.
Born and raised in Southern California, Mehta has called Virginia home for more than 30 years. Her paintings are recognized for their loose, impressionistic style, expressive palette knife work and richly textured paint surfaces.
Throughout her career, Mehta has earned numerous awards in national and international exhibitions and competitions. Recent honors include first place at the 2025 Borrego Springs Invitational Plein Air in California, first place at the 2022 Plein Air Brandywine Valley, and the Best Agricultural Award at the 2023 Gloucester Plein Air Invitational.
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Sarah Becktel Fine Art
4276D Harbor Beach Blvd. Brigantine, NJ 08203
(609) 202-3483
sarah@sarahbecktel.com
www.sarahbecktel.com
Located on the island of Brigantine along the New Jersey coast, Sarah Becktel Fine Art is the working studio of wildlife painter Sarah Becktel. Open by appointment, the studio welcomes visitors to experience Becktel’s oil paintings in person while exploring Brigantine’s beaches.
The studio includes a gallery space where visitors can view available paintings and fine art prints, along with a custom frame shop where artwork can be professionally framed to each collector’s preferences.
Interior of Sarah Becktel Fine Art’s gallery space. Sarah Becktel, Boundless, oil on panel, 18 x 30 in.
Becktel’s attached workspace offers visitors the opportunity to see paintings in progress and gain insight into her creative process. Viewing the sketches and reference materials that shape each painting provides a unique behind-the-scenes experience.
Becktel’s wildlife paintings are inspired by ecology and the hidden lives of wild animals. Her work explores the stories of individual animals that too often go unnoticed. Studio visitors can chat with Becktel and learn more about the research and inspiration behind each painting.
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Mary Pritchard
Chestertown, MD
info@marypritchardart.com
www.marypritchardart.com
IG: marypritchardpaints
FB: marypritchard.587
Two major events influenced Mary Pritchard when she returned to painting full-time. She moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland where she had spent much of her childhood, and she discovered the fast, flexible and forgiving medium of pastel. The quiet beauty of the landscape near her home in Chestertown, Maryland, fascinated her with its tapestry of river, grasses and reflections, as well as rural architecture’s way of coexisting with the surrounding fields and skies. Pastel enabled her to depict these surroundings, from plein air sketches to large dramatic paintings.
Mary Pritchard, Plantation Clouds, Charleston, pastel, 9 x 12 in.
Pritchard is known for her paintings of the farms and rivers of the Eastern Shore as well as the rocky coast of Maine. She received her bachelor's degree in studio art from Mount Holyoke College, as well as master’s degree in both art and journalism. She was an art curator for several major corporations and was a university administrator before returning to the studio. These experiences converged in her enthusiasm for teaching, creating and conserving art. While pastel is her primary medium, she also works in gouache, acrylic and oils
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Meg Walsh
Easton, MD
megwalshart@gmail.com
www.megwalsh.com
IG: meg_walsh_art
FB: Meg Nottingham Walsh
Artist Meg Walsh’s goal as an artist is to translate a scene, emphasizing what interests her most about a specific place at a moment in time. “I want you to see the world through my eyes,” she says. “There are artists who capture a scene, and there are those who invite you to step inside it.”
Meg Walsh, Summer, oil on linen, 18 x 24 in.
Walsh does exactly that-—sharing serene moments that often pass unnoticed. A former National Geographic editor turned full-time painter, she brings a rare sensitivity to color, light and atmosphere that feels both effortless and deeply considered. Characterized by simplified shapes and limited values, her work has a strong abstract element while remaining firmly rooted in realism.
Walsh is represented by galleries in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. She has won numerous awards at major juried exhibits and plein air competitions, and her landscapes are featured in the book 100 Plein Air Painters of the Mid-Atlantic. Walsh lives along the scenic Chesapeake Bay of Maryland, where she teaches painting at the Academy Art Museum in Easton.
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The Trippe Gallery
23 N. Harrison Street Easton, MD 21601
(410) 310-8727
thetrippegallery@gmail.com
www.thetrippegallery.com
The Trippe Gallery, located on Harrison Street in Easton, Maryland, is poised to celebrate its 14th anniversary at its current location. What began in 2011 as a collaboration of studio and gallery space between two artist friends—fine art photographer Nanny Trippe and watercolor painter Don Hilderbrandt—has evolved into one of the Eastern Shore’s finest art galleries. Exhibiting a range of mediums, genres and styles, the gallery represents over 40 local, regional, national and international award-winning artists.
The Trippe Gallery, Summer Day at Dogwood Harbor, oil, 30 x 40 in., by Stephen Griffin.
Exuding a warm and friendly environment, the gallery is a popular place to visit amongst both locals and first-time visitors who enjoy the ever-changing collection of artwork. Monthly, the gallery presents a themed exhibit featuring one or more of the gallery artists, or guest artist, with an opening reception during the First Friday Gallery Walk. Trippe offers personal home and office curation of artwork: the art will be brought to you home or office to see how it looks in your space as well as coordinating commission work be it for a particular spot or a portrait.
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Washington Society of Landscape Painters
www.wslp.org
In 1913, Woodrow Wilson entered the White House, the zipper was perfected, and the world stood at the precipice of the First World War. Amid that atmosphere of invention and change, a small group of Washington civil servants and government workers left their desks and ventured into the countryside to paint the landscape “en plein air.” More than a century later, the Washington Society of Landscape Painters has carried its devotion to the natural world through generations of change. Its members are accomplished professional artists, but also a deeply collegial group, drawn together by camaraderie, high standards, and a shared willingness to follow the light, brave the weather, and meet the landscape on its own terms.
Five Washington Society of Landscape Painters gathered for a 10-day painting retreat in Umbria Italy in September 2025. WSLP members and guests gather after painting at Sky Meadows State Park in Virginia.
Artists within the group, which is limited to 40 elected members, reside throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region and work in both the studio and plein air in multiple genres, and a variety of representational styles ranging from realism to impressionism.
Group activities include monthly outings to paint in plein air, quarterly meetings, critique retreats and an annual banquet
Once each year, they come together to present work shaped by close observation and a lasting reverence for place.
The 2026 exhibition, titled Sense of Place takes place across several galleries in Easton, Maryland, from September 4 through 30. The show offers visitors a rare opportunity to see the landscape through 32 distinct voices, each preserving something fleeting, beautiful and worth remembering. See our coverage of the event on Page 74.
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Trisha Adams
Herndon, Virginia
(540) 454-5922
trisha@trishaadams.com
www.trishaadams.com
Trisha Adams didn’t always create bold, distinctive oil paintings of landscapes and still lifes. She started out as a graphic designer and freelance software trainer. But long hours and short deadlines made her long for a more self-directed creative outlet. When she discovered painting at age 44, she became laser focused.
Trisha Adams, Chillaxin’, oil, 12 x 12 in.
With the goal of advancing quickly, Trisha immersed herself in art by working, studying and renting studio space at the local art school, Loudoun Academy of the Arts, in Leesburg, Virginia. In the beginning, her study focused on color harmonies which she believes are tied to an emotional response in the viewer. Later she focused on edge-—soft edges to create atmosphere and mystery, lost edges for movement and bravado, and hard edges to command attention. Her work blends representation with an abstract language of blocks, dots and dashes.
Adams has taught in France, Italy, Mexico and Australia, but now teaches domestically and online at www.paintwithtrisha.com. Seh is a member of the Washington Society of Landscape Painters, American Women Artists and the American Impressionist Society.
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Zenith Gallery
1429 Iris Street NW Washington, D.C. 20012-1409
(202) 783-2963
www.zenithgallery.com
Since opening its doors in 1978, Zenith Gallery has established deep roots in the nation’s capital, and with artists and collectors across America. Today, the gallery represents nearly 100 artists with mastery in painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, neon, jewelry and tapestry.
Zenith Gallery, George Washington IV, Michelin maps and glass, 21 x 17 in., by Joanathan Bessaci. Zenith Gallery, You’re Not Alone, oil on linen, 38 x 48 in., by Bradley Stevens
Born in Lyon, France, Joanathan Bessaci’s work explores memory, personal journeys and the invisible threads that connect us. He draws from the diverse influences of his Kabyle and Vietnamese heritage to create a deeply poetic and reflective body of work. Once a graffiti artist and painter, his mixed media practice has evolved to include roadmap cuttings, recycled cardboard, and assemblages of old photographs.
Over the course of his 50-year career, Bradley Stevens has forged a reputation as one of America’s leading realist painters and a top copyist of Gilbert Stuart. “His style is contemporary realism—rooted in classical training, yet boldly depicting the modern world with his penetrating eye,” notes the gallery. Skilled in portraiture, landscapes and figurative cityscapes, Stevens combines these genres in his work, creating contemporary portraits of people and places.
Visit Zenith Gallery’s website for a schedule of upcoming exhibitions and to discover more unique art pieces currently on display at gallery’s Upper Northwest location.
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Waterfowl Festival
40 S. Harrison Street Easton, MD 21601
(410) 822- 4567
facts@waterfowlfestival.org
waterfowlfestival.org
For more than five decades, the Waterfowl Festival has earned its reputation as one of the nation’s premier destinations for wildlife art collectors. Each November, historic Easton, Maryland, becomes a gathering place where exceptional artists, passionate collectors and sporting enthusiasts come together to celebrate the finest traditions of wildlife art, sporting heritage and conservation education.
The 55th Annual Waterfowl Festivalcontinues that legacy with an extraordinary lineup of featured artists whose work reflects the depth, diversity and craftsmanship that have defined the festival for generations. This year’s honorees—graphite master Ray Brown, renowned master carver Randy Conner and celebrated sculptor Paul Rhymer—represent three distinct artistic disciplines, offering collectors an exceptional opportunity to acquire museum-quality works from nationally recognized artists at the height of their careers.
Top: Waterfowl Festival, Blackwater Beauty, bronze, 2 x 9 x 6 in., by Paul Rhymer. Waterfowl Festival, Reservoir Dogs, graphite on paper, 40 x 40 in., by Ray Brown. Bottom: Waterfowl Festival, The Great Debate, wood, by Randy Conner.
Beyond the featured artists, more than 50 juried painters, sculptors, carvers and craftsmen from across North America will exhibit original works inspired by wildlife, sporting traditions and the landscapes of the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. Whether your collection focuses on traditional sporting art, contemporary wildlife subjects or investment-quality originals, the festival offers an unparalleled selection in one walkable destination.
Unlike a conventional gallery, the Waterfowl Festival provides collectors with the rare opportunity to meet the artists behind the work, learn the stories that inspire each piece, and purchase directly from the creators themselves. Many artists debut new collections and unveil one-of-a-kind works created exclusively for the festival, making every visit a chance to discover something extraordinary. —
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