Get ready to celebrate, because you are invited to Artworks Trenton to kick off the launch of their latest exhibition, “Sweet Savages”.

On Friday, May 5th, Artworks Trenton will host the opening reception for the Sweet Savages exhibit. This event will be held from 6-8pm at the Artworks headquarters, located at 19 Everett Alley, Trenton, NJ 08611. The exhibit will be on view from May 2nd through June 3rd, 2023, and features the work of three fiercely talented artists, Sarah Petruziello, Sharon Sayegh, and Barbara Minch. The three featured mediums, namely sculpture, painting, and drawing, are certain to evoke a wide range of emotions. The works featured in this exhibit feature the deeply personal and private thoughts of the artists, offering viewers the chance to explore the subconscious and immerse themselves in an imaginative new world.

Some common themes featured in the artwork include the self, symbolism, identity, politics, spirituality and the natural world. This carefully curated exhibit seeks to connect the artists, and more importantly, the viewers, offering an opportunity for connection and unity. Through these works of art, Petruziello, Sayegh, and Munch seek to forge a space for transformation and thought for the entire family.

Gathering Storm by Sarah Petruziello

Sarah Petruziello’s masterful and meticulous graphite drawings, which are often embellished with stitching, beading, and gold leaf, are a dazzling display of skill, imagination and depth of content to marvel at and ponder on. Her detailed, large-scale drawings, which are based on realistically rendered self-portraits, weave rich stories guaranteed to take you on a terrific journey through her imagination.

Petruziello received her MFA in painting from the University of Georgia in 1994. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Graphic Design and Drawing and Painting from the University of Georgia in 1991. She is the recent recipient of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts 2022 and 2006 Artist Fellowships for Works on Paper, as well as a Grant for Working Artists from the George Sugarman Foundation in 2007. She has had solo shows at Stockton State College Art Gallery, Azarian-McCullough Gallery at Saint Thomas Aquinas College among others. She was an adjunct professor at Seton Hall and presently teaches art at James Caldwell High School. Sarah’s studio is in South Orange, NJ.

Barbara Minch’s sculptures depict a feminine fantasy world. Many of her life-sized works are “Warrior Women”, with wide-eyed hope and an uncanny presence. While these sculptures have a whimsical appearance, the faces are hyper-realistic, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. They are made with Minch’s proprietary recipe of paper and clay, collaged with intricate pieces of paper, in a meticulous process of overlaying papers.

Minch has exhibited at Gallery Henoch, NYC, and Gross McCleaf Gallery in Philadelphia. She has additionally exhibited at the Johnson and Johnson World Headquarters, NYC, Trenton Museum, Newark Museum, Woodmere Art Museum, Ella Sharp Museum, Saginaw Art Museum, Midland Center for the Arts and taught at the Montclair Art Museum. Her work is in the collections of Philadelphia Airport, Marriot Hotel, Amoco, CIGNA Corporation, Bell Atlantic, Beaver College, Simon & Shuster, BC/BS, among others. She was the founder and director of the Exhibitors’ Co-op, a professional artists critique and exhibition group. Barbara’s studio is in West Orange, NJ.

The Dragonfly by Barbara Minch

Last but certainly not least, Sharon Sayegh’s oil paintings exhibit a sense of wonder, something she has been experience since childhood. Turning inward for inspiration, she focuses on moments of philosophical awareness and emotional memories. Her paintings are sometimes mysterious, striking a sonorous color chord. She translates her ideas into a symbolic language using mixed and isometric perspectives, and repeating patterns in her compositions. The core of her work explores the concept of art as a spiritual experience.

Sayegh received her BA from University of Pennsylvania with a major in Fine Arts; she also attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Sayegh received the 2021 Bernadette Award from the National Association of Women Artists, and was interviewed on the Creative Brick Road Podcast and The Artist Nest. She has work in the permanent collection of South Texas College and exhibited at the Holocaust Museum Houston, Texas. She is a member of International Guild of Realism, a Signature member of Artists for Conservation, National Association of Women Artists and a member of PoetsArtists. Sharon’s studio is in East Brunswick, NJ.

The host of this event, Artworks Trenton, is a continuous center of arts and inspiration in the Capital City. Throughout the year, Artworks curates and hosts a variety of thoughtful exhibitions to feature talented artists and create a conversation. In addition to these groundbreaking exhibits, Artworks also offers a variety of community and educational events, allowing visitors near and far to get in on the artistic action. If you’d like to read more regarding all Artworks has to offer, you can check out their website here: Home – Artworks.

The artwork of these talented ladies is only on display for a limited time, so do not miss the chance to enjoy this captivating collection. If you have any questions prior to attending, please feel free to contact Artworks at (609) 394-9436 or info@artworkstrenton.org for additional information. All are invited to the opening celebration, so mark your calendars today!

The Flying Machine by Sharon Sayegh

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