AN
ARTFUL YEAR IN REVIEW
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 10, 2024
2024: AN ARTFUL YEAR IN REVIEW
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 10, 2024
Arcadia Contemporary proudly presents 2024: An Artful Year in Review, a curated retrospective celebrating standout exhibitions and remarkable artists showcased throughout the year.
Featuring available works from an extraordinary roster of talent—including ;Daniel Bilodeau, John Brosio, Anne-Christine Roda, Mark R. Pugh, Adèle Flamand-Browne, Richie Carter, Annie Murphy-Robinson, Aaron Westerberg, Kesja Tabaczuk, Mary Jane Ansell, Nick Alm, and Alberto Ortega— this special exhibition highlights the diversity and innovation of Arcadia’s 2024 programming.
From the lush florals of Bilodeau’s “Bloom” to Ortega’s cinematic exploration of suburban narratives in “Eye of the Beholder,” each artist brought their unique vision to the gallery this year. 2024: An Artful Year in Review offers collectors and art enthusiasts an opportunity to revisit these dynamic exhibitions and acquire exceptional works from this past landmark year.
DANIEL BILODEAU “BLOOM”
JANUARY 20 – FEBRUARY 4, 2024
Arcadia Contemporary opened 2024 with “Bloom,” the debut solo exhibition by Daniel Bilodeau. Featuring over a dozen stunning floral works, the exhibition showcased Bilodeau’s remarkable ability to transform fleeting natural beauty into vibrant, timeless art.
A Canadian American artist based in New York City, Bilodeau is celebrated for his masterful botanical paintings that harmonize technical precision with a contemporary aesthetic. His work has been exhibited globally in museums and galleries, earning numerous accolades, including a summer residency in Giverny, France, awarded by the Terra Foundation of American Art. Bilodeau’s art-making process is deeply meditative, serving as a sanctuary of appreciation for nature’s intricate folds and textures. His paintings invite viewers to share in that sense of wonder, offering a moment of respite amidst today’s complexities.
Following the success of “Bloom,” Bilodeau reached new milestones, including the exhibition and sale of his largest painting to date, Fleuramour (60 x 48 inches), at the LA Art Show in February. He also participated in Arcadia’s 10th Annual Five and Under Exhibition and was featured in Arcadia’s exhibition at the inaugural Atlanta Art Fair, continuing to captivate collectors with his awe-inspiring floral compositions.
“The Bouquet and the Bumblebee” Oil on Linen
48 x 36 Inches
“Daffodils Daffodils Daffodils”
Oil on Panel
36 x 30 Inches
x 16 Inches
Oil on Panel
16 x 16 Inches
JOHN BROSIO “AMERICAN GAMES”
FEBRUARY 24 – MARCH 10, 2024
John Brosio returned to Arcadia Contemporary for his second solo exhibition, “American Games,” a surreal and thought-provoking showcase of new works. Through movielike compositions and dioramic elements, Brosio explored themes of chaos, mythology, and existential contemplation, offering audiences a glimpse into his multi-dimensional perceptions of reality.
Born in Pasadena, California, in 1967, Brosio earned his BFA from the University of California, Davis, where he studied under Wayne Thiebaud and Richard Bunkall. Originally pursuing a career in film and special effects, his cinematic influences remain evident in his work. Brosio’s paintings, which often reflect on life’s chaotic duality, have been featured in solo exhibitions across California and New York, as well as in a 2008 survey at the National Academy of Sciences Museum in Washington, D.C.
Following “American Games,” Brosio participated in Arcadia Contemporary’s 10th Annual Five and Under Exhibition. Currently hard at work in his studio, Brosio will exhibit new paintings at the LA Art Show in February 2025 and in Arcadia Contemporary’s 25th Anniversary Exhibition in April 2025. In addition to his personal work, Brosio resumed teaching at Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD), where he leads the “Direct Painting” course in the BFA Fine Arts program.
48
36 x 48 Inches
“Edge of Town No. 4”
42 x 54 Inches
“Final Judgement”
Oil on
24 x 30 Inches
“Ambercrombie, TX”
22 x 28 Inches
“Tornado Study XVIII”
8 x 6 Inches
ANNE-CHRISTINE RODA “LES
SILENCIEUSES”
MARCH 14 – APRIL 10, 2024
French artist Anne-Christine Roda made her U.S. debut with “Les Silencieuses (The Silent Ones),” her first exhibition at Arcadia Contemporary. This striking collection of oil paintings captured the fragility and emotion of the human spirit. Her hyper-realistic yet deeply intimate works invited viewers into quiet, unguarded moments, transforming everyday gestures into profound reflections on humanity.
Rooted in the techniques of the Old Masters, Roda’s art bridges classical traditions and contemporary relevance. Her focus on sincerity and emotional depth over technical display has earned her widespread acclaim.
Following her debut, Roda’s works were featured in Arcadia Contemporary’s 10th Annual Five and Under Exhibition. The gallery plans to showcase her new works at the 2025 LA Art Show. In March Roda’s retrospective book, Capturing Essence: The Portraits by Anne-Christine Roda was published by The Guide Artists.
57 1/2 x 38 Inches
45 1/2 x 35 Inches
“La Robe Noire I”
Oil on Panel
35 1/2 x 23 1/2 Inches
“La
Oil on Panel
15 3/4 x 23 1/2 Inches
7 x 10 Inches
“Derriere La Fenetre I”
Oil on Panel
14 1/2 x 12 Inches
ADÈLE FLAMAND-BROWNE “CARYATID”
MARCH 21 – APRIL 14, 2024
In March Arcadia Contemporary presented Adèle Flamand-Browne’s first exhibition, “Caryatid,” a new series of works that delved into themes of identity and the human experience. Using graphite and carbon pigment, Flamand-Browne captured transient, unposed moments with a stark range of values and intricate mark-making, blending traditional techniques with modern emotional depth.
Adèle Flamand-Browne recently completed her BFA at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts. Her education at a figurative-based fine art academy fostered her dedication to drawing and painting, focusing on large-scale charcoal drawings and oil paintings that explore the significance of line and form.
Since “Caryatid,” Flamand-Browne has participated in Arcadia’s 10th Annual Five and Under Exhibition, relocated to Washington, D.C., and accepted a major large-scale commission through the gallery. Currently, she is working on a series of sketches and smaller works that will evolve into her next body of larger, more developed pieces. Arcadia Contemporary plans to showcase her new works at the inaugural Scottsdale Art Fair in March 2025.
“Who is Ushering Me Out”
Carbon Pigment on Paper Mounted to Panel 30 x 24 Inches
16
“Impressed
Upon” Carbon Pigment on Paper Mounted to Panel 16 x 16 Inches
16 x 12 Inches
“For
it Was Summer” Carbon Pigment on Paper Mounted to Panel 12 x 6 Inches
MARK R. PUGH
“THE GIRL AND THE EMPTY MAILBOX AND OTHER STORIES”
APRIL
18 – MAY 5, 2024
In April, Arcadia Contemporary exhibited the “The Girl and the Empty Mailbox and Other Stories,” the debut solo exhibition by Mark R. Pugh. Featuring 20 narrative paintings, the collection blended traditional realism with whimsical, storybook elements, inviting viewers to uncover universal themes of innocence, curiosity, and transformation. Inspired by his four daughters, Pugh created works that transcend personal anecdotes to tell stories that resonate on a broader, human level.
Born and raised in Idaho, Mark R. Pugh draws inspiration from artists such as John William Waterhouse and Edward Gorey, blending narrative charm with surreal undertones. His process, likened to songwriting, balances concept, subject, and execution, resulting in paintings that feel both deeply personal and universally relatable.
Since “The Girl and the Empty Mailbox and Other Stories,” Pugh’s painting “Sorrow and the Girl with the Flower “was featured on the cover of American Art Collector, and his work “Young Artist Sketching a Bird,” received recognition for exceptional merit at the Portrait Society of America. Two of Mark Pugh’s paintings were acquired by museums in 2024: “The Girl with Scissors and the Prize-Winning Rose Bush” joined the Art Renewal Center Museum Collection, and “Girl in the Snowy Meadow” was added to the New Salem Museum of Art Collection. Pugh has participated in Arcadia’s Five and Under Exhibition, the Atlanta Art Fair, and is planning his next solo show with Arcadia for 2026-2027.
“Harvest Season”
Oil and Ink on Linen
30 x 30 Inches
“The Girl and the Empty Mailbox” Oil and Ink on Linen 30 x 20 Inches
18 x 12 Inches
RICHIE CARTER “SE PRÉPARER”
MAY 9 – MAY 26, 2024
In the Spring of 2024, Arcadia presented “Se Préparer,” the debut solo exhibition by Montana-based artist Richie Carter. Featuring 22 new oil paintings, this deeply personal body of work captured Carter’s memories and experiences from his travels throughout Paris over the past six years. Each painting served as a chapter in a larger narrative, reflecting universal themes of memory, grief, and transformation, while offering an intimate glimpse into Parisian life.
Born in 1988 near Kalispell, Montana, Richie Carter earned his BFA from the University of Montana. He draws inspiration from his years living and working in Northern France, creating works that blend plein air studies, memory, and sketches into a tonal aesthetic reminiscent of Russell Chatham. “Se Préparer” highlighted Carter’s ability to transform personal experiences into universally resonant stories, establishing him as a promising voice in contemporary landscape painting.
Since “Se Préparer,” Carter has extensively traveled Europe, teaching and painting before relocating to Los Angeles to create his next body of work. His paintings have been featured in Arcadia’s Five and Under Exhibition and the Atlanta Art Fair, with plans to showcase new works at the 2025 LA Art Show and the inaugural Scottsdale Art Fair in March 2025
“Please Don’t Go Home Yet” Oil on Linen 28 x 24 Inches
30 x 16 Inches
“La Ville Dort Encore”
16 x 12 Inches
16 x 12 Inches
ANNIE MURPHY-ROBINSON “COUNTENANCE”
MAY 23 – JUNE 11, 2024
“Countenance,” a captivating exhibition by Annie Murphy-Robinson featured eight, hyper-realistic charcoal drawings. The works focused on the expressions and nuances of the artist’s primary subject—her daughter—inviting viewers to explore themes of trauma, truth, and memory. Through meticulous technique and an active dialogue between subject and viewer, Murphy-Robinson blurred the line between reality and recollection, creating a deeply introspective body of work.
Born in 1972 in Heron, Montana, Annie Murphy-Robinson earned her BFA from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and her MA from California State University, Sacramento. Her mastery of charcoal drawing has garnered international acclaim, making her a standout in contemporary representational art.
Since Countenance, Murphy-Robinson has participated in Arcadia’s Five and Under Exhibition and will showcase her works at the inaugural Scottsdale Art Fair in March 2025. In September 2024, she traveled to South Africa to teach with Workshops in SA, further sharing her expertise and passion for drawing with an international audience.
“Coyotl(Coyote”
29 x 21 Inches
“Casey (Origin)”
“Observation”
Charcoal on Paper
16 1/2 x 13 1/2 Inches
19
AARON WESTERBERG “AFTERTHOUOGHT”
JUNE 13 – 30, 2024
Arcadia Contemporary proudly presented “Afterthought,” the debut solo exhibition by Californian artist Aaron Westerberg. Featuring 23 new oil paintings, the collection showcased Westerberg’s mastery of a moody, subdued palette, blending 19th-century tonalism with influences from modern cinematography. His works, deeply rooted in personal narrative, offered viewers a cinematic and emotionally resonant experience.
Born in 1974, Westerberg shaped his artistic path through self-directed study and mentorship under renowned artists such as Jeffrey Watts and Daniel Pinkman. From his Los Angeles studio, he continues to mentor emerging artists while creating evocative and atmospheric paintings.
Since “Afterthought,” Westerberg has exhibited at the Atlanta Art Fair and is preparing new works for Arcadia Contemporary’s booths at the 2025 LA Art Show and the inaugural Scottsdale Art Fair. In April 2025, he will also be featured in Arcadia’s 25th Anniversary Exhibition. Looking ahead, Westerberg is working on a new series of paintings for a planned exhibition in 2027, continuing his exploration of narrative and tonal expression.
“In the Artist’s Studio”
Oil on Aluminum
36 x 36 Inches
“Outside Discussion”
Oil on Aluminum
32 x 32 Inches
“Fleeting Connection”
Oil on Aluminum
24 x 24 Inches
“Apprehension”
Oil on Aluminum
18 x 18 Inches
KESJA TABACZUK “FIELDS OF MORNING”
JULY 11 – 31, 2024
“Fields of Morning,” was the exciting, U.S. debut solo exhibition by young Polish artist Kesja Tabaczuk. Featuring 19 new oil paintings, this collection explored themes of childhood nostalgia and the beauty of everyday moments. Influenced by Diane Arbus’s emotive style and her own idyllic Eastern European upbringing, Tabaczuk’s work combines meticulous realism with evocative narratives. Her creative process involves extensive photo sessions to capture the perfect moment, resulting in portraits that balance subtle emotion and captivating detail.
Born in 1989 in Opole, Poland, and based in Oslo, Norway, Tabaczuk is largely self-taught, drawing inspiration from contemporary realist painters. Her rise from personal creative pursuits to professional acclaim has established her as a standout voice in modern portraiture.
Since “Fields of Morning,” Tabaczuk’s works have been featured in Arcadia Contemporary’s Five and Under Exhibition, and she is preparing new paintings for the gallery’s presentation at the 2025 LA Art Show. Additionally, her debut artist monograph,” A World Within: The Personal Portraits of Kesja Tabaczuk,” published by The Guide Artists, celebrates her most evocative works to date.
“Hearts Abundance”
Oil on Linen
39 x 39 Inches
35 x 35 Inches
“Quiet Concerns”
Oil on Linen
31 x 25 Inches
“Golden Daydreams”
Oil on Linen
30 x 30 Inches
“Forgotten Wandering”
22 x 22 Inches
MARY JANE ANSELL
“LOVE’S BRIGHT ARMOUR”
SEPTEMBER 12 – 29, 2024
Arcadia Contemporary presented “Love’s Bright Armour,” the third solo exhibition by British painter Mary Jane Ansell. Featuring 18 new paintings, the collection explored themes of resilience, protection, and female strength. Through her meticulous attention to detail and symbolic storytelling, Ansell reflected on the power of human connection as both a shield and a source of empowerment. Highlights of the exhibition included her “Lover ’s Eyes” series and the title work, Love’s Bright Armour I, which depict the protective strength relationships provide amidst chaos.
Mary Jane Ansell has garnered international acclaim for her masterful figurative works that blend classical technique with contemporary narratives. Drawing inspiration from literature, history, and personal experience, Ansell’s paintings are renowned for their layered emotional depth and elegant symbolism.
Since the exhibition “Love’s Bright Armour,” Ansell’s works have been featured in Arcadia’s exhibition at the Atlanta Art Fair, and the Fort Wayne Museum of Art recently acquired the exhibition’s title painting “Love’s Bright Armour I.” In April 2025, she will also be featured in Arcadia Contemporary’s 25th Anniversary Exhibition.
30 x 20 Inches
“Love’s Bright Armour III”
Oil on Aluminum Panel
19 1/2 x 19 1/2 Inches
“Winter’s Vigil”
Oil on Aluminum Panel
23 3/4 x 16 1/2 Inches
“Love’s Bright Armour II”
19 3/4 x 19 3/4 Inches
“The Lover’s Eye II”
12 x 12 Inches
12 x 12 Inches
FERNANDO CIDONCHA “U.S.
DEBUT”
SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 13, 2024
Arcadia Contemporary presented the U.S. debut of Spanish artist Fernando Cidoncha, featuring 16 new paintings that transcend traditional figurative depictions to explore universal themes of connection, contemplation, and spirituality. Drawing from Florence’s Renaissance heritage, Cidoncha’s work uses the human form as a vessel for emotional resonance and spiritual yearning, blending timeless imagery with moments of quiet introspection where music, dance, and stillness converge.
Residing in Florence, Italy, Cidoncha serves as Assistant Director and professor at the Sacred Art School. His background in Human Sciences and Philosophical and Artistic Studies from the University of Navarre, coupled with his specialization in sculpture, deeply informs his practice. Rooted in figurative and representational art, his works offer a profound exploration of the human form, inviting viewers into spaces of introspection and connection.
Following his U.S. debut, Cidoncha returned to Italy and has begun working on new paintings for the LA Art Show in 2025. Arcadia Contemporary is also discussing a potential forthcoming solo exhibition for the artist in 2026, continuing to build upon this substantial moment in his career.
“Outsiders Greeting”
Oil on wood
34 1/2 x 48 Inches
“Reflection”
48 x 27 Inches
Oil on wood 24 x 16 Inches
NICK ALM
“PORTALS AND PLACES”
OCTOBER 24 – NOVEMBER 12, 2024
“Portals and Places” was the third solo exhibition by Swedish painter Nick Alm. Featuring 20 original watercolors and oil paintings, the collection delved into the nuances of human interaction and introspection, each piece serving as a portal to realms beyond the physical world. Alm’s masterful use of light, shadow, and composition created moods that were both intimate and contemplative.
Born in 1985 and based in Stockholm, Nick Alm is celebrated for his classical technique and emotionally charged narratives. A recipient of the prestigious William Bouguereau Award in 2014, his work has been exhibited across Europe, America, and Asia, earning him international acclaim.
Since “Portals and Places,” Alm has returned to his studio, where he continues to develop new works. Arcadia Contemporary plans to exhibit Alm’s most recent paintings at the upcoming LA Art Show in 2025.
“Change of Seasons”
19 3/4 x 45Inches
“Lyran”
Oil on Linen
29 1/2 x 35 1/2 Inches
“Bedscape”
29 1/2 x 29 1/2 Inches
“Among The Waterlilies”
22 x 30 Inches
“Afternoon
Watercolor
19 x 28 Inches
ALBERO ORTEGA
“EYE OF THE BEHOLDER”
NOVEMBER 7 – DECEMBER 1, 2024
“Eye of the Beholder” was the second solo exhibition by Spanish-born artist Alberto Ortega. Featuring 14 new oil paintings, this collection explored the hidden narratives of suburban America, reflecting on the contradictions and fragility of the “American Dream.” Ortega’s cinematic nocturnes, influenced by Edward Hopper and David Lynch, balanced nostalgia with unease, inviting viewers to project their interpretations onto his open-ended narratives.
Born in Seville, Spain, and now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Ortega’s meticulous process involves crafting miniature sets to serve as models for his paintings, creating works rich in both detail and emotional depth. His art transforms everyday scenes into poignant reflections on isolation, ambiguity, and the complexities of modern life.
Since “Eye of the Beholder,” Ortega has returned to his North Carolina studio while the exhibition remains on view at Arcadia Contemporary through December 2024. His painting “The Long Winter” was featured on the cover of American Art Collector’s 229th issue. The gallery plans to showcase available works at the 2025 LA Art Show, the inaugural Scottsdale Art Fair, and as part of Arcadia Contemporary’s 25th Anniversary Exhibition opening in April 2025.
“The
30 x 40 Inches
“An Inquiry”
Oil on Linen on Panel
18 x 30 Inches
“An Unusual Minute”
Oil on Linen on Panel 17 x 30 Inches
“A New Car for the Patersons” Oil on Linen on Panel
14 1/2 x 19 Inches
“A
Strange Delivery” Oil on Linen on Panel 9 x 12 Inches
“A Humid Evening”
Oil on Linen on Panel
8 x 10 Inches