Summer arrives with a particular kind of light. It stretches across open skies, settles into gardens and landscapes, glints off water, and fills familiar places with warmth and color. This season, the Bernice Kish Gallery at Slayton House invites visitors to experience summer through the eyes of local and regional artists in the 2026 Summer Invitational Exhibition.
On view from July 1 through August 10, 2026, the exhibition brings together 31 artists and 58 artworks, offering a lively and varied interpretation of the season. Visitors will find a wide range of subjects, styles, and media, from quiet landscapes and floral works to bold color, abstraction, summer memories, and expressive responses to place.
As an invitational group exhibition, the Summer Invitational offers a broad snapshot of the creative community surrounding the gallery. Each artist brings a distinct point of view, making the show both cohesive in spirit and rich in variety. Together, the works reflect the many ways artists observe, remember, and respond to the visual language of summer.
At the heart of this exhibition is the gallery’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for artists and making original art more visible within the community. By bringing together artists working in a range of media, styles, and points of view, the Summer Invitational offers a platform for creative exchange while giving visitors an accessible way to experience the depth and variety of local artistic practice. The show is also a platform to connect: artists with one another, viewers with artwork, and the wider community with the creative voices working in and around Howard County.
The public is invited to join us for the exhibition reception on Saturday, July 11, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. The reception is a wonderful opportunity to meet participating artists, view the full exhibition, and enjoy the gallery in a warm, community-centered setting. Juror Recognition will also be announced during the reception, including awards selected by the exhibition juror.
Whether you are an artist, collector, neighbor, or simply looking for an inspiring summer afternoon, the Summer Invitational is a wonderful reason to visit the gallery. Original artwork is best experienced in person, where color, scale, texture, and detail can be fully appreciated.
Visit the gallery this summer and see how artists interpret the season through light, color, memory, and place.
🗓 Exhibition Dates: July 1 – August 10, 2026
🎉 Opening Reception: Saturday, July 11 | 3–5 PM | RSVP: https://forms.gle/6hmBuvaWMpd2v6YTA