February – March 2026 Exhibits

This February, Art Works presents solo exhibitions by Ryan Lytle, Jane Skafte, Ginny Loving, and Catherine Purdy, along with the juried All Media Show and the Community Bridge Project with Justyn Canada. From surreal needle-felted animals and lush botanical paintings to haunting handmade dolls and expressive wildlife portraits, there’s something for everyone to discover. Join us for the opening reception on Friday, February 27, 6–8 p.m. with live music, refreshments, and the chance to meet the artists. Admission and parking are free—come celebrate creativity in Richmond!

Three Acts of Prey by Ryan Lytle

Hampton-based sculptor Ryan Lytle creates animal-inspired sculptures through the process of needle felting, transforming raw wool into forms that are at once surreal, inviting, and deeply human. While his figures take the shape of animals, they reflect human interactions, behaviors, and emotions, anthropomorphized into a symbolic visual language. Lytle earned his B.A. in Studio Art from Christopher Newport University and an MFA from the Rinehart School of Sculpture at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

The exhibition will be in the Jane Sandelin Gallery at Art Works through April 18, 2026.

Sylvan: Trees by Jane Skafte

Jane Skafte takes inspiration straight from the garden, celebrating the beauty of foliage and plant life in all its stages. With a background in textile design, she plays with the rhythms of organic forms, magnifying and cropping leaves, branches, and blooms to uncover hidden patterns and spaces we often overlook. In Sylvan, her non-directional compositions encourage viewers to see nature from fresh angles—inviting discovery in every detail.

The exhibit is on view in the Port II Gallery at Art Works through March 21, 2026.

The Extinction Ball: The Last Dance Before The Evolutionary Precipice by Horrible Darlings, Ginny Loving

In The Extinction Ball, Ginny Loving (Horrible Darlings) presents a hauntingly elegant series of handmade dolls representing extinct and endangered animal species. Dressed in Victorian and fantasy-inspired costumes, these figures embody both beauty and loss, reminding us of the urgent realities of the climate crisis and humanity’s impact on the natural world.

This exhibit will be in the Centre Gallery at Art Works through March 21, 2026.

Untamed RVA: Wildlife on the James by Catherine Purdy

Catherine Purdy has been passionate about both art and animals since childhood, a devotion that led her to pursue art professionally in 2021. Working primarily in oil, she focuses on wildlife and pet portraits, often using tightly cropped compositions that capture animals in mid-motion. Through the expressive depth of their eyes, Purdy creates moments of connection that tether viewer and subject in a shared experience.

This exhibit will be in the Corner Gallery at Art Works through March 21, 2026.

Catfight: How to Dissect a Woman by Sarah Emily Balough

In Catfight: How to Dissect a Woman, Sarah Emily Balough reclaims female rage as a force of power, beauty, and resistance. Through layered, psychological compositions of twisting figures and saturated color, Balough transforms anger into ritual, balancing beauty with brutality. The exhibition challenges cultural expectations of composure, inviting viewers to see rage not as destructive, but as essential self-expression.

This exhibit will be in the Port Gallery I at Art Works through March 21, 2026.

The Community Bridge Exhibit by Justyn Canada 

RVA Thriving Artists introduces Justyn Canada in the most current Community Bridge Project. Justin Canada’s work centers on figurative and portrait-based realism, using expression and detail to tell stories from diverse cultural, racial, and social backgrounds. His portraits highlight the beauty, resilience, and complexity of ordinary people, inviting viewers to see themselves and others with empathy while celebrating diversity and shared humanity.

This exhibit is in the upstairs Bridge Project space at Art Works and will continue through February 28, 2026.

February All Media Show

This exhibit is a focal point of all Art Works’ openings. It is a juried show with cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. The show is open to all artists and all mediums. There is no theme this month. Call for entries is January 24 – February 15, 2026, and may be submitted through the online form. The exhibit will be in the Skylight Gallery at Art Works through March 19, 2026.

Check our website for details on submitting artwork: Call for Entries