Our new Group exhibit, All about blue 226, opens on January 14, 2026 and will run through April 29 at the Elisa Contemporary Art Riverdale Gallery. It is our third exhibit focused on this inspirational color.

Blue had a major cross-cultural moment in 2025: Vogue called cobalt blue the new it color, major auction results revived interest in International Klein Blue, and art buyers sought out works in this calming, tranquil hue.

The color blue represents the sea, as well as the sky. It is associated with open spaces, a sense of freedom and expansiveness, and inspiration to reach beyond. The color blue has positive effects on the body, mind and spirit. Blue is calming -- engaging the body to produce chemicals that create feelings of peace, ease and tranquility.

Throughout the centuries, the color blue within fine art has been one of the rarest and most precious shades of all. Some artists even went into debt in order to use the color. During the Renaissance, many painters had to grind up the semi-precious stone lapis lazuli to make this deep blue pigment, ultramarine. Ultramarine was so expensive that some paintings were never finished because the painter couldn’t afford to buy more pigment. Even Michelangelo couldn’t afford it and Raphael used it only for a top coat.

We'll be exploring the color blue across a range of different mediums -- including painting, dimensional artworks and works on paper. And we’re delighted to include works by our new gallery artist, Shelby K. Smith.

The artists on exhibit are: Connecticut Artist Betty Ball, California Flow artist, Kimber Berry; California Realist Ferdinanda Florence; Texas Pop Artist, Mitch McGee; New York Sculptor, Neva Setlow; Boston Artist, Nancy Simonds; Connecticut Geometric Artist, Shelby K. Smith and Abstractionist, Rose Umerlik.