By Jaimie Julia Winters
Kearny Museum’s walls are about to come alive.
This Saturday, the town unveils its first-ever Kearnian Art Show, a vibrant celebration of homegrown talent featuring the work of 36 local artists in a dazzling mix of photography, sculpture, painting, murals, mixed media, and digital art. Hosted inside the Kearny Museum on the second floor of the Kearny Public Library, the exhibit opens with a public reception Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
But art lovers should act fast: this is a limited-run exhibition, open only on select dates this week and next, with expanded viewing hours.
A collaboration between the Kearny Public Library and the Kearny Museum, the show was conceived by Museum Committee member Erin Martins and fellow committee members as a way to spotlight the creativity flourishing quietly across town—and, organizers hope, to launch a beloved annual tradition.
What began as a hopeful idea quickly blossomed into something bigger. Any worries about finding enough participants disappeared when dozens of artists answered the call.
“I am surprised by the number of pieces and the different styles and different looks that are part of the community,” Library Director Josh Humphrey, who curated the exhibit, said. “We are very excited that we were able to do this.”
And what a collection it is. Visitors will find everything from Jonathan Fernandes’ striking photojournalism and Michael Medina’s bold abstractions to Kayla Nieto’s nostalgic portrait of the Arlington Diner and Charles Edmundson’s carved wooden sculpture of two faces. There is whimsy, memory, texture, movement, and stories in every corner.
Other featured works include Chrystal Lopez’s floral portraiture, Joel Ryan’s self-portrait, Jeannie Burns’ jewel-and-button creations, Robert Policastro’s tiger study, and Martina Nevado’s mixed-media piece depicting a child in Machu Picchu.
The exhibition also reflects the town itself: artists range from Kearny High School students and teachers to seniors and longtime community figures, creating a cross-generational portrait of Kearny through art.
A call for submissions was issued at the end of 2025 to local high school students and adult residents, with an open submission period throughout January.
Opening day will also bring a touch of competition, with awards selected by the Museum Committee, including a $250 Best in Show prize, along with second- and third-place honors funded by the museum.
The show continues during museum hours the following week, including May 6 and May 9, the latter coinciding with the town’s second annual Historic Walking Tour.
For one week only, Kearny’s creativity has found a gallery—and the town is invited in. Hours are May 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; May 6, 4-8 p.m.; and May 9, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
LIST OF ARTISTS AND THEIR WORKS:
JONATHAN FERNANDES PORTUGAL DAY, NEWARK 2025
SALMA ABEDULLAH DEFYING NEWTON
AKSHAY SUDHAKARAN PEPPER
NICOLE DURAN-ALEMAN A WOMAN’S DISDAIN
KAYLA NIETO ARLINGTON DINER
ANA YNGELMO WHERE WE SAT
ERIN DONNELLY OLIVIA
PAUL FOWLER FLAT IRON BUILDING
ALEXIS KRAYNIAK SOFTER, SOFTER
TARA MAZIOU SUNSET, BUDAPEST
G. GABRIEL FLORES GRIEF & TRANSFORMATION
SAVANNA BONIELLO BRUISED INTO BLOOM
KYLE JOLLY IAN BROWN
MARA FRANCESCA LOPEZ CAMPOS WHAT IS TIME
MARTINA NEVADO CHOLITA PERUANO EN MACCHU-PICHU
INES HERRERRA SHELL OF ILLUSION
JEANNE BURNS PAM’S TREE
ANA TAVARES MARTINS UNTITLED
MIKE LANDY ANNIE BRIDGE
JOPHIEL GONZALEZ GROWING IN MY PAST
IVAN JIMENEZ CHILDREN OF THE SUN
MICHAEL MEDINA INSPIRATION IDEALLY INDUCES INVENTIVE IMAGINATION
HELEN PERRY WALKABOUT
JOSHUA KIM SUPERBLOOM
CARLOS MARSANO 3 CANONES
QUINN O’SHAUGHNESSY PARTY DEMON
CAT DOMIANO HIPPOCAMPUS
CRYSTAL LOPEZ LONE BLOOM IN THE WILD
ALLISON PROCACCI STREET PHOTOGRAPH: AUSTRIAN HALFLINGER MARE
JOEL RYAN SELF IMAGE
CHARLES EDMUNDSON UNTITLED
ROBERT POLICASTRO ROUND TIGER
DANNU DENIZENS