The heart of the American Impressionist Society’s annual National Juried Exhibition is to promote the appreciation of American impressionism, and provide artists with opportunities to exhibit, learn and connect. For the 27th edition, hosted at Mockingbird Gallery in Bend, Oregon, this mission lives on as the AIS features 185 paintings by emerging and seasoned artists across the United States, as well as AIS Masters and members of the board of directors.
Rana Jordahl, Where the Water Remembers, oil, 12 x 12 in.
“Collectors can expect an extraordinary collection of representational paintings in the impressionist tradition,” says Liz Ahrens, AIS executive director. “The exhibition includes landscapes, cityscapes, coastal scenes, florals, still life, figurative works, interiors and wildlife; painted in oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache and pastel. Visitors will experience a remarkable range of interpretations of light, color, atmosphere and everyday life, demonstrating how impressionism continues to evolve while remaining rooted in direct observation and exceptional craftsmanship. The varying artistic styles is one of the exhibition’s greatest strengths.”
Barbara Jaenicke, Quiet Autumn Radiance, oil, 16 x 20 in.
Find works like Nancy Tankersley’s painting Change Order, featuring a male figure at work in a restaurant kitchen. “I paint people at work because labor reveals character—the set of a shoulder, hands shaped by use, focus in their eye,” the artist shares. “Work is where dignity lives quietly—unposed. I’m not painting the idea of a laborer, but the specific, unrepeatable person doing the job. He meets the change order with calmness and assurance that he can meet the challenge.”
Patricia Nebbeling is drawn to the expressive possibilities of flowers—their color, movement and endless variety—and the way light can transform them. Her paintings, like show piece Peonies in Green McCoy Jug, “begin with something that catches my eye, but composition is what allows me to shape that initial response into something more personal,” she says. “Through color, light and carefully considered design, I hope to convey not simply what I see, but what made me want to paint it.”
Patricia Nebbeling, Peonies in Green McCoy Jug, oil, 12 x 16 in.
Attendees will also find animal depictions, found in works like Where the Water Remembers, by Rana Jordahl. “My paintings are guided by the belief that the most compelling moments are often those left unfinished in the viewer’s mind,” says Jordahl. “Through expressive brushwork, layered color, and an emphasis on light and atmosphere over meticulous detail, I seek to evoke the essence of a moment rather than simply describing it. By leaving space for interpretation, I invite viewers to linger—allowing memory, emotion and imagination to complete what is only suggested on the canvas.”
Extending beyond the gallery walls, AIS offers a series of events during opening week from September 2 through September 5. This includes artist demonstrations, educational lectures and panel discussions, painting critiques, outdoor paint outs throughout central Oregon, and a workshop taught by AIS Master, Calvin Liang, who is also the awards judge. A one-day "Wet Wall" exhibition is scheduled for Saturday, September 5, featuring approximately 40 paintings created during the opening week by AIS members. An awards presentation will be held on Thursday, September 3, where over $100,000 in cash and merchandise awards will be presented, including a $13,000 cash award for Best of Show.
Nancy Tankersley, Change Order, oil on panel, 12 x 12 in.
The opening reception will take place Friday, September 4, marking the official opening. The show will hang through October 3 at Mockingbird Gallery, and can also be viewed in its entirety on the AIS website. —
American Impressionist Society: 27th Annual National Juried Exhibition
When: September 4-October 3, 2026
Where: Mockingbird Gallery, 869 NW Wall Street #100, Bend, OR 97701
Information: (231) 881-7685, www.americanimpressionistsociety.org
Powered by Froala Editor
